Summary of 5 Health & Medical Changes Due to the Pandemic

Available for Interviews: Dr. Tammy Penhollow

Dr. Tammy Penhollow is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, specializing in anesthesiology, pain management, and regenerative medicine. Having over 20 years of experience has helped her to cultivate a passion for regenerative medicine and holistic healing. Dr. Penhollow practices at Precision Regenerative Medicine in the greater Phoenix area.

What Dr. Tammy Penhollow can say in an interview:

1. Childhood vaccinations have plummeted. The American Academy of Pediatricians is launching a campaign #CallYourPediatrician to urge parents to resume routine childhood vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 2.5 million dose decrease in orders of routine childhood vaccines from Jan 07, 2020 to Apr 21, 2020.

2. Organ transplant surgeries have dropped dramatically. Kidney transplants decreased in France by 91% and in the US by 50% in one study, but other organ transplants such as heart, lung, and liver have also decreased significantly. Not only have fewer organs been available due to the decreased number of motor vehicles and other accidents which are often the source of the organs, but the severe blood supply shortage has also made many transplant programs only proceed with true emergency surgeries. Many transplant patients require multiple dozens of blood product transplants and with a shortage, the hospitals cannot support the surgery. A third reason is concern for COVID-19 infection—transmission from a donor (organs are screened for the infection) and reduced immunity as a result of immunosuppressant medications the organ recipient must take for the rest of their lives.  

 

3. Mental health issues increased. Spike in mental health injuries from PTSD to depression, and perhaps in the coming months and years we will see the expected increased rate of suicides as a result of the pandemic and national emergencies.  

 

And Now for the Positive

4. Increase in telehealth availability. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers are paying higher reimbursement rates (not quite the same as in-person visits, but that is the eventual goal) and allowing patients to have routine visits, new consultations, and even screening visits that may keep them out of the ER or urgent care via telemedicine. Patients and physicians are generally VERY pro-telehealth for the convenience, safety, and efficiency they provide.

 

5. More bicycles on the road. The bicycle industry has seen a huge boom almost to “toilet paper and disinfecting wipes” proportions with bicycles and their supplies flying off the shelves—and a supply system straining to keep up. The health benefits of a more active population are well known, but it does not hurt to remind ourselves of the increased benefit of reduced weight, increased cardiovascular strength, and the pure joy of endorphins being released with a great ride.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life innumerably for the world. What we choose to adopt as the new normal is on some level up to us. We can take the positive opportunities and look toward changing things that were perhaps not the priority before, but are now.