One thing COVID has brought to all of us is UNCERTAINTY.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic turned your professional life upside down? As Healthpreneurs we are all struggling to make sense of all of the changes. That is why I put together this list of changes I’ve noticed in women’s healthcare during COVID-19. With change comes innovation and I am hopeful that, with some thinking about creative ways to connect and engage with our clients, we will get through this, together.
What Women’s Health Providers Need to Know:
1.Women are seeking preventive care less often. Providers need to find ways to creatively offer preventive health care virtually. Social media, newsletters, and helpful blogs will help patients stay connected, even if they aren’t coming into your office.
2. Women’s mental health status is suffering. COVID19 increased stress, depression, isolation, and anxiety and put many other women at risk for physical and emotional abuse in their own homes. Providers, don’t forget to ask screening questions about mental health, personal safety, and substance use.
3. Success in a pandemic means offering more telemedicine and solutions for out-of-office care. One reproductive health clinic offered drive-thru Depo (DMPA) birth control shots to their patients during the lockdown. What can you do to make getting reproductive healthcare easier and safer for your clients during the pandemic?
4. Many of your clients have experienced employer-related changes in their health insurance plans or plans have changed what they will cover as “essential medical care.” Take the time to discuss these changes with your clients so they don’t get stuck with unexpected medical bills.
5. Significant barriers now stand in the way of obtaining essential reproductive healthcare. Infertility, pregnancy, preventing pregnancy, and abortion care are much more anxiety-ridden for patients. You can read about the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (ACOG) recommendations for the provision of women’s healthcare during the pandemic here.
6. Your clients are more interested in complementary and alternative treatment methods (CAM) to boost immunity and reduce vulnerability to COVID until a vaccine is available. Offer them clear, simple, and research-based strategies for how to take control of their own wellness.
How can you build your business’s resiliency in these uncertain times?
Has your business or practice shifted with the pandemic? Clients’ needs changed? Do you need help finding the right ways to stay connected with your clients during the pandemic? My expertly-written blogs, social media posts, and patient education resources will engage your clients and help inspire them to live healthier lives. My unique service packages offer comprehensive plans for you breathe new life into your patient communication strategies.
What changes in women’s healthcare during COVID-19 have you observed in your practice? How have you adapted? Let me (and other healthpreneurs) benefit from your insights. Leave a note below in the comments or on Facebook or LinkedIn.