Keeping Patients Safe
During the COVID-19 pandemic hospitals and medical offices are taking extra precautions to keep patients safe, including:- Checking patients’ temperature when they enter the facility
- Asking about possible contacts
- Requiring patients and providers to wear masks
- Maintaining social distancing in all common areas such as waiting rooms
- Scheduling telemedicine visits when appropriate
Pandemic or not, an ovarian cancer diagnosis requires urgent care, and patients who are living with the disease need maintenance treatment to prevent recurrences. The global pandemic presents challenges to health care providers, but medical centers are taking extra safety precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Read More- Calling patients before appointments to determine if they should get tested for COVID-19 before arriving at the clinic
- Asking patients questions when they arrive to determine who may be at increased risk because of possible exposure
- Taking temperatures at the door
- Maintaining social distance in common areas such as waiting rooms
- Requiring that both providers and patients wear masks
In addition to these screening measures, medical facilities are also limiting visitors, spacing out appointments, and in some instances delaying or changing treatments, taking into account a patient's health and the prevalence of coronavirus where they live. For ovarian cancer patients, some doctors are now recommending neoadjuvant chemotherapy–chemotherapy cycles done before cancer surgery–so that surgery can be safely delayed in areas where hospitals are dealing with many COVID patients.
Dr. Gray stresses the importance of continuing to talk to your doctor to determine how best to proceed with your treatment. "Now that we've been living with COVID and we've adjusted our lives to COVID masking, social distancing, all of those things," she says, "we can't forget about the rest of our medical care."
Telemedicine Replaces Some In-Person Visits
According to Dr. Gray, most medical practices are now offering tele-health or telemedicine services, where patients can meet with a medical practitioner virtually rather than in person. These virtual visits can be a good option for patients who are unsure whether they need to see a doctor. Dr. Gray says that telemedicine can help "to see if it’s something they should come in for or not. I think that's a really important message to get out to patients."
In a telemedicine visit, patients can ask questions, and discuss their concerns and any side effects or symptoms they are experiencing. The nurse or doctor they are speaking to can then determine how to address those concerns, or whether the patient needs to be seen in person or be referred to another doctor.
People who have not been diagnosed with ovarian cancer but are experiencing symptoms or warning signs can also seek medical advice virtually before presenting to a medical center for testing.
Telemedicine is an invaluable resource during the current pandemic, but it's important to remember that it is not a substitute for a physical exam. Some patients will still need to be seen in person to undergo scans and other procedures. Patients with ovarian cancer should stay in regular contact with their doctor, letting them know about any medical concerns or side effects that develop. Whether in-person or by telemedicine, patients with ovarian cancer should continue to seek treatment and talk to their doctor about any medical concerns
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