08/03/2020    Joseph Borreggine, DPM

COVID-19 and Elective Foot Care

The longer this COVID-19 pandemic goes on,
the less likely those who actually need
“elective” or “routine” care are truly putting
themselves at great risk the longer they delay
medical treatment and care. Patients who
routinely sought medical care and went to their
yearly wellness checks, dental cleanings,
optometry (eye exams) and ophthalmology
(cataract), and monthly podiatry care (nail/
callus trimming and needed diabetic foot care)
are not doing so as they once did.

Most importantly, those requiring elective
surgery have also continually dwindled since
this all began. These procedures are very
important in the realm of preventive medicine.
This is quite unfortunate indeed. Because of
this mass reduction in those seeking proper
healthcare, the majority of health care systems
have been suffering financially.

Most of these healthcare systems ultimately
depend on outpatient procedures to maintain
their bottom line. In turn, physicians have not
seen the patient population they once did.
Hence, this downturn in routine doctor visits
has reduced the number of viable private
practices over these last few months.

Over time, these once profitable medical
practices (small businesses) will most likely
disappear due to increasing fiduciary
constraints/liabilities caused by the pandemic.
Even in light of the government financial
assistance, small businesses such as these will
be burdened for years with unplanned and
unsustainable liabilities. Hence, shuddering
the medical practice maybe the best option.
That is, not to also mention, the stress placed
on corporate or group medical practices that
have waned as well. Healthcare as we knew it
before this COVID-19 pandemic occurred is
going to change forever. Sadly, patient access
to the once readily available routine
healthcare will become a thing of the past.

The COVID-19 virus is communicable than the flu
or pneumonia. And yes, it is rather contagious,
but may not be as deadly as the media would
make everyone believe. There is common sense
and then there is media hyperbole which creates
public fear. Literally, this fear is causing
people to believe that if anyone touches or
breathes on them, then their life may be over.
That is; they may die. This might be true in
rare instances, but not as likely as one would
think. Recovery from COVID-19 is more frequent
that what is being reported.

Fear of COVID-19 is unnecessarily doing
unattended harm to the public at-large.
Moreover, the public continues to follow the
mantra of what is being reported. This is good
is a good. Heeding the CDC advice and
guidelines are very important. But, when this
information is being conflicted by contrasting
views of public opinion that COVID-19 will
either be the end of us all or not, then it is
hard to understand what is the truth is.

Unfortunately, whether it is the drumbeat of a
certain public opinion or what the media
continues to report, the result has prevented a
person who normally saw the doctor (for routine
care or tests) has now chosen not to do so.
This choice is most likely rooted in fear. That
is, fear to leave their house because they are
too aged or just at too much risk to get COVID-
19. Good reasons to do so, but the cost of
doing so has deleterious consequences when it
comes to maintaining good health.

This choice not to go to the doctor maybe more
deadly than COVID-19 itself. Understand a
person with hypertension or heart disease has a
incredible chance of dying more than of COVID-
19 if not routinely seen by the doctor.
Moreover, there are far more many other
diseases that also have a much greater risk of
morbidity and mortality if left unattended.
This faltering demand to routinely see the
doctor is not ideal for maintaining good public
health in general.

How and why did this happen? We all can surmise
the answer (or can we), but is the intended
result purposeful or just happenstance?

Joseph Borreggine, DPM, Port Charlotte, FL

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