Physician Practice

Money woes and distance: Patient stressors during the COVID-19 era

Medical Environment Update, September 6, 2020

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Medical Environment Update.

by Brian Ward (bward@hcpro.com)

As of this writing, the novel 2019 coronavirus has infected over 4.8 million Americans and killed over 158,000. Unemployment is at its highest level since the Great Depression, and experts predict mass evictions as financial aid measures run out.

People have been isolated for months from their loved ones or forced to shelter in place in unhealthy living situations. Scientists and governments around the world are sounding dire warnings about climate change even as countries brace for hurricane season. Massive social unrest and protests have forced the United States and other nations to confront ugly realities involving race, law enforcement, and corruption.

And don’t forget, this is the year many of us learned what a murder hornet was.

These and many other factors are taking a toll on patients’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being—even those not battling COVID-19.

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Medical Environment Update.

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