Massachusetts health experts talk post-pandemic 'curves', mental health and returning to care
Boston HeraldJun 23, 2020
"I'm very concerned about the social isolation. Everybody is talking about the curve ?-- I see three curves," said
Bisognano said in addition to the current curve which involves case counts, hospitalizations, deaths and personal protective equipment, the second curve will be in mental health care for families, patients and health-care workers who took on trauma during the pandemic.
The third curve will be when everyone starts to return for regular care they missed while staying home, said Bisognano.
"It's important we focus on what we've innovated and really focus on how do we really keep the telehealth," said Bisognano.
Dreyfus said half of those claims were for mental health visits, adding that some therapists reported arriving at breakthroughs with patients who became more comfortable talking via telehealth appointments.
"The speed and pace of the change tells us we can move other things really, really fast if we want to," said Dreyfus during the
Dr.
"We have not overcome these issues yet and they do create further isolation," said Gawande.
The coronavirus has also offered a "safe space" for many families to venture into the difficult conversation of end of life care with their loved ones, said Gawande.
"It's allowing people to take seriously what they are willing to do and not willing to do for the sake of safety," said Gawande.
He added, "That's exactly the kind of conversation everyone needs to be having and COVID makes it more concrete."
Dreyfus called those tough conversations a "breakthrough," considering many put off the topic until later in life.
"We should find a way to really capitalize on this moment," said Dreyfus.
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