{"title":"COVID-19 Truths, Lies, and Consequences","authors":"D. Goldenberg","doi":"10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0006","url":null,"abstract":"Misinformation and disinformation, most often propagated on social media sites, became rampant during the pandemic, contributing to myths and conspiracy theories. Such falsehoods resulted in inappropriate treatments, such as happened with hydoxychloroquine, and has contributed to vaccine hesitancy. Disinformation and political interference in institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) caused confusion for the American public and contributed to the poor pandemic performance in the United States. Anti-vaccine disinformation has interfered with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Healthcare providers need to take an active role in combating medical misinformation.","PeriodicalId":424079,"journal":{"name":"COVID's Impact on Health and Healthcare Workers","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123794381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Persistent Medical Problems","authors":"D. Goldenberg","doi":"10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0007","url":null,"abstract":"Persistent medical symptoms following COVID-19 infection may be related to chronic organ damage or dysfunction, primarily documented in the lungs, heart, and brain. This is more common in patients with severe COVID and who were treated in intensive care units. The atypical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of COVID may lead to chronic pulmonary vascular disease and fibrosis. Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy may result in chronic cardiac disorders. Neurologic symptoms, including loss of taste and smell as well as mental and cognitive dysfunction, are common during acute COVID infection but may persist for months. In addition, 5%–10% of patients, including many with mild or moderate infection, report multiple unrelated symptoms lasting for months. These patients have been termed “long-haulers” or long-COVID syndrome and no significant laboratory or pathologic findings have been identified. The symptoms and clinical course are similar to chronic fatigue syndrome/benign myalgic encephalomyelitis and post-viral syndrome. In the general population, mental health issues have increased significantly, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep disturbances.","PeriodicalId":424079,"journal":{"name":"COVID's Impact on Health and Healthcare Workers","volume":"230 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128407478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact on Primary Care and Specialty Care","authors":"D. Goldenberg","doi":"10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0004","url":null,"abstract":"Primary care practices (PCP) and specialty practices stopped most routine care and suffered major financial loss during the pandemic. Family practice, small PCP practices, and pediatrics were hit the hardest and are still having difficulty recovering. Increased use of virtual care, team management, and integration with community and public health were each utilized effectively during the pandemic and should continue to be incorporated in ambulatory medical practices.","PeriodicalId":424079,"journal":{"name":"COVID's Impact on Health and Healthcare Workers","volume":"126 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122422770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Way Forward","authors":"D. Goldenberg","doi":"10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0008","url":null,"abstract":"The optimal rollout of an effective vaccine will depend upon correcting the flaws in our healthcare system laid bare during the pandemic. Public health must be prioritized and the CDC and WHO provided with the resources to work effectively, devoid of political interference. Healthcare inequities must be tended to, racism acknowledged and erased. Every American has the right to affordable healthcare. The care of the elderly must be rethought and rehumanized. Primary care should be the fulcrum of the US healthcare system with reimbursement based on value. Preventative, rather than reactive, healthcare, employing team collaboration with adequate mental health resources, and reaching across arbitrary boundaries, is essential. The pandemic has raised awareness of healthcare worker safety and well-being, an essential goal for hospitals. Physicians, scientists and all HCWs must rely on science and speak out against misinformation.","PeriodicalId":424079,"journal":{"name":"COVID's Impact on Health and Healthcare Workers","volume":"351 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122921202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Telemedicine","authors":"Don L. Goldenberg","doi":"10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197575390.003.0005","url":null,"abstract":"Telemedicine assumed an important role during the pandemic and its increased utilization will continue. Telemedicine worked best when it was integrated through patient portals and with the electronic medical record (EMR). Specialty services employed electronic consultations (E-consults) and telemedicine provided a venue for sharing consultations and critical care across state and regional boundaries. Telemedicine in mental health has been widely utilized and likely to persist at high levels in the future. Telemedicine allows greater access and convenience for patients and more flexibility for providers but equity for patients and providers needs to be addressed. Adequate reimbursement for telemedicine is essential to its future role in healthcare delivery.","PeriodicalId":424079,"journal":{"name":"COVID's Impact on Health and Healthcare Workers","volume":"57 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114281720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}