Pontiac, Michigan (WXYZ) — Dr. Rahul Mehta, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Trinity Health Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, is one of two doctors who have written to the community. just like they are now.
In it, they urged more proactive care, stating that “medical deferrals were a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the problem today is much worse than it was just three years ago.” I was.
“Things have improved since the height of the pandemic when people were really afraid to come to the emergency department,” said Dr. Mehta. “People delayed treatment for strokes, they delayed treatment for their hearts.
Dr. Mehta said the pandemic may have caused some people to delay routine check-ups and doctor visits. Now, more than three years into the pandemic, ERs are seeing more and more patients with chronic heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Many of them could have been avoided with preventive care.
“What this has caused is that an easily modifiable event is now not easily modifiable, interfering with their long-term care and well-being,” said Dr. Mehta.
Dr. Mehta is urging people to resume regular visits to their primary care physician.
Dr. Asha Shajahan, Medical Director of Community Health, Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe, said: “We see a lot of problems. We see cancer discovered at a much later stage, we see high sugar problems and high blood pressure.”
Dr. Shajahan advises people not to delay getting blood tests and cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies, even though they may encounter a backlog when trying to schedule an appointment. .
“My advice is to schedule and schedule. This is a regular screening,” Dr. Shajahan said. “Whether it’s three months later, four months later, it’s better to do it now than to do nothing.”
Many Metro Detroiters told by 7 Action News say their visits to the doctor have resumed since the pandemic began, or have remained the same since the beginning.
“Yes, I’m going in person, so I’m probably going to the doctor more often,” said Kate Rybicki, who just came from a blood draw.
“I usually go once a year. I always try to stay up to date,” says Joseph Bruglio.
“I haven’t missed anything, but I also manage my health through my work, so it’s helpful for people.
In addition to COVID, rising costs are playing a role in healthcare delays, according to a recent Gallup Poll. In that poll, 38% of people reported he delayed healthcare to 2022 because of the cost. This is the largest amount ever recorded in a poll started in 2001. Doctors hope the impact of the pandemic will wane and more regular visits will resume.
“We hope to return to ‘normal’ citations in the next year or two when it comes to people seeing doctors and getting screened, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Dr. Shajahan said. says. He said.