For the Physicians: Tips for Patients’ Concerns About Office Visits During a Pandemic

Aug 10

Here Are Some Tips on How to Manage Your Patients’ Concerns About Office Visits During COVID-19

Being in the medical communications field, I consistently enjoy the luxury of interacting with my pharma clients’ physician customers and patients. I have very much enjoyed working with these physicians and patients from whom I collect valuable insights to drive my project strategies. During this pandemic, I learned a lot about the challenges that you physicians are facing just to even see your patients.

Patients, in general, are concerned about visiting doctors and receiving care during COVID-19. You are undoubtedly experiencing a steep drop-off in visits. It’s not easy! Patients are staying away because they are fearful of getting ill from coronavirus infection.

However, as you know, many patients can continue to go down the hill of disease progression when treatment is put on hold, and when disease management is deferred. Even during COVID-19, it is quite possible to maintain a disease care plan for your patients.

So how can you ensure uninterrupted patient care amid COVID-19?

Here are some recommendations and tips based on insights gathered from various health care providers and patients:

Be sure to talk to your patients if they are concerned about office visits and/or facing challenges with continuing treatment
Help address patients’ safety concerns by reaching out to them frequently and consistently. Consistency is the key here.
Talk to your patients regarding:
- Safeguards put in place and precautions that are being taken
- Personal safety anxieties
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Office/clinic sanitization procedures
- Precautions in place for high-risk individuals (eg, elderlies, comorbidities individuals, immunocompromised patients)
- Importance of treatment adherence and regular follow-ups
- Telemedicine or a different way to connect

Urge your patients to talk to you before they decide to cancel an appointment. If your patients stop their treatment, make sure you outline a plan to get them back on treatment.

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