Pandemic Preparedness: Let’s Be Ready for the Patient and Their Caregiver
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way that people with chronic illness interact with the health care system. Many patients still face challenges accessing the care they need. In the early days of the pandemic, uncertainty led to cancellations of some nonurgent care, such as clinic visits and elective surgical procedures.1,2 Innovative ways to provide care became standard, such as frequent telehealth interactions, where in-person care had been the prior “normal” experience.3 Even as clinical environments reopened, patients were fearful to leave the safety of their homes and seek care for minor health concerns.