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What should I do for routine health care during the pandemic and in the new year?

GEHA | February 28, 2022

Health and wellness COVID-19
Don’t forget to prioritize taking care of yourself as you kick off the new year. Learn more about the steps medical facilities are taking to make sure you are safe.

Stephanie Carpenter, RN

Stephanie is a Registered Nurse who focuses on Proactive Care Management and works on acute and chronic disease management focusing on improving member health and experience while decreasing the cost of care.  She has been with GEHA since June 2019. Prior to her work with GEHA, she has worked in an acute care hospital, home health, and nursing home.

A) Kicking off a new year can be extremely busy and stressful. With this in mind, it’s important to take care of yourself, and that means taking time to visit the doctor both for routine health visits and if you’re not feeling well.

Statistics show that four in 10 adults in the United States have reported avoiding medical care because of COVID-19 concerns. But it’s important to know that many medical facilities are taking a variety of steps to reduce spread of COVID-19 in doctor’s offices, including:

  • Rearranging waiting areas, exam rooms, and workspaces for social distancing
  • Only allowing 1 support person to accompany patients at appointments
  • Routine screening of staff for COVID-19 symptoms, wearing face coverings, and testing on request of staff

 

If you’re still concerned, you can also arrange telehealth visits to limit potential exposure to COVID-19.

Sources:
https://health.gov/news/202103/keeping-routine-care-and-preventive-services-safely-during-covid-19
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6936a4.htm