Pandemic Slashes ER Visits By 42%
- 4 years ago
Americans are staying away from hospital emergency rooms in droves.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday ER visits have dropped by more than 40% in 2020, compared to the same period last year.
According to UPI, a significant number of Americans may have delayed or declined emergency care because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some public health experts say a fundamental change in how ERs are used could be a lasting legacy of the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Paul Biddinger says many patients who once addressed health concerns by heading to the ER can now be seen remotely, via telemedicine.
People have been working for decades on telemedicine...And the pandemic forced a lot of that on us. Dr. Paul Biddinger, Vice Chair for Emergency Preparedness Emergency Medicine Department, Massachusetts General Hospital
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday ER visits have dropped by more than 40% in 2020, compared to the same period last year.
According to UPI, a significant number of Americans may have delayed or declined emergency care because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some public health experts say a fundamental change in how ERs are used could be a lasting legacy of the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Paul Biddinger says many patients who once addressed health concerns by heading to the ER can now be seen remotely, via telemedicine.
People have been working for decades on telemedicine...And the pandemic forced a lot of that on us. Dr. Paul Biddinger, Vice Chair for Emergency Preparedness Emergency Medicine Department, Massachusetts General Hospital