Doctors offices not busy as physicians taking fewer in-person appointments
By GILLIAN SLADE on March 25, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade Your family doctor’s office may not be as busy as you would think during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Actually, most physicians are not (busy),” said Dr. Donovan Nunweiler, Southlands Medical Clinic. “In order to be compliant with social isolation, we are addressing patient concerns over the phone and only seeing the patient in person for exceptional circumstances.” In fact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta recently reminded doctors of the need for social distancing. A notice to doctors suggested increased use of phone or video consultations, limiting physical examinations, and limiting exposure in waiting rooms for those who must be seen in person. Nunweiler says when patients need to be seen in person they are taken directly to an exam room to avoid the waiting room completely. So much of what family doctors do is preventative care and education, he said. “Screening for cancer and discussing coronary artery disease risk is currently not deemed as important as limiting contact with others,” said Nunweiler. “There are physicians on the sidelines waiting to jump in if the need arises. Fortunately, there has not been a lot of COVID-19 detected yet in the south region.” Limiting the number of patients being seen in person has dramatically reduced demand for appointments. 9-8
