The novel coronavirus, known to everyone as COVID-19, has turned our world upside down. It completely changes our lives in a short lifespan. Suddenly, everyone's lives have been going in a different direction, plans are all canceled, and the most important thing now is being alive, or perhaps, having good health.
It shifted our routine, learning phase, interactions, and how we move, work, decisions, and plan. Suddenly, everyone became more conscious about health, sanitation, protection—family.
With strict implementations of social distancing, prohibited gatherings, and physical contact, people have prioritized what's most important. As a result, almost everything was turned virtually.
Despite the fear and confusion, our lives were also filled with hope. Americans had a different approach to health, and the healthcare industry continues to improve for the best.
Challenge with Mental Health
This comes as no surprise as the pandemic struck the world. With increased awareness about mental health, people have been more inclined to talk about their deep-rooted fears and insecurities. But, more importantly, they've learned that it's okay not to be okay.
People had a better understanding of how psychology works and its benefits on physical wellness through medications and therapy. As a result, mental health has become a considerable part of the healthcare world, which led to more research about it, creating better treatment options for those suffering from mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.
Delayed well-check ups due to hesitation
Upon realizing that we may be more prone to catching viruses, people have been less inclined to go for well-check ups. Instead, we've become too conscious about our health and what illnesses we might bring home with us from the hospital or clinic. This has led some hospitals to implement new policies.
Awareness of how diseases are spread
With stricter implementations to prevent the virus from spreading, people have become more conscious about hygiene. They've learned that viruses can be transmitted through human contact, and this has led to a new chapter in healthcare—sanitation. People are now being taught not only what germs are but also their origins and ways to prevent them.
Adjustments with routine
With the virus already in our midst, people have had to adjust their routines. It has become more critical for people to prioritize what's necessary and urgent—family time or work? The former won out, but this does not mean that business-related activities were put on hold indefinitely.
People were able to find a balance between life and work, understanding that life is more important. They've learned to prioritize what matters most, and the pandemic has provided a lesson on how we should live our lives, which will continue even after COVID-19 is eradicated from society.
Businesses have been opening up with different strategies for their employees and ways for workers to manage stress while still being productive.
How The Healthcare Industry Copes With COVID-19
Our resilience has been tested with COVID-19. The pandemic has forced us to adapt, and we've learned a lot from this experience. It applies not only to the physical but also mental wellness of each person and society at large.
People have become more aware of their health, sanitation, how diseases are spread – mainly through human contact, and how to prevent illness.
With stricter implementations of social distancing, prohibited gatherings, and physical contact came a shift in our routine; we've become more mindful about health, and the healthcare industry continues to improve for the better.
One of our most significant assets is the capacity to create new products and services that we never had before – such as COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots. We've also learned to be more critical about products. So while the pressure continues to rise for the healthcare industry to improve, it also continues to push us forward.
With balancing and thoughtful prioritization of our needs, we can continue to push forward.
While most industries faced unprecedented disruptions, healthcare and medicine were hit harder than others.
Discover and evolve
Our resilience has been tested with COVID-19. The pandemic has forced us to adapt, and we've learned a lot from this experience. It applies not only to the physical but also mental wellness of each person and society as a whole. As people have been forced to adapt, they've developed new tools and methods for coping with the pandemic that can be applied in other areas of life.
The healthcare industry continues to discover and evolve faster to meet the needs of modern society. While we combat the pandemic, the healthcare system is in dire need of change. They're working hard to adapt and find the most effective solution to end this pandemic once and for all.
Choose and aspire
The healthcare system needs to provide the best care possible for the sick and those who may become unhealthy. In addition, the system needs to be equipped with enough resources and personnel to handle a high volume of patients at once, which is not easy as we advance.
While many people have been affected by COVID-19, there has also been an increase in people seeking mental health issues. This is because the pandemic has increased the risk of anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders that have been difficult to diagnose or treat. This is a big challenge as there are not enough resources available to provide everyone with the help they need right away.In addition to increasing healthcare facilities' capacity, we've seen a rise in the use of telemedicine. This has been effective for those who live far from healthcare facilities or cannot physically travel to seek medical aid. It's also helpful because it allows doctors and patients to connect via video chat which can help speed up diagnosis, treatment, and recovery time by enabling physicians to see the patient at work through their webcam.
Adapt and innovate
While telemedicine has helped, the system needs to adapt even further to provide an effective treatment that can fit everyone's unique situation. This is where technology comes into play as new advancements are made every day.
Scale and accelerate
This pandemic has accelerated the need for this advancement in technology. As a result, we've seen a rise of telemedicine centers equipped with everything needed to treat patients remotely, including medical equipment, software, and hardware, as well as training programs for physicians who want to learn how to use it effectively.
This can help speed up recovery time by sparing patients from traveling long distances or being transported via ambulance. It can also shorten waiting times which will help ensure that the most effective treatment is being delivered as soon as possible.
Mobilize and extend
The capacity and capabilities of the healthcare system have led the pursuit to develop cure-specific treatment programs. Therefore, conquering COVID-19 has been a top priority not just for society but also for the healthcare industry. This has been a top priority because many people have fallen victim to this pandemic.
Healthcare leaders have been pushing an extra effort, improving the current system, and developing new methods that are catalysts and life-changing for all the people affected.
