Preparing Primary Care for COVID-20

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mohammed Ali, Emory University; Deep J. Shah, Emory University; Carlos Del Rio, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-06-09
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Society of General Internal Medicine 2020
• License: Creative Commons Universal : Public Domain Dedication
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-05945-5
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of General Internal Medicine
• ISSN: 0884-8734
• Keywords: Medicine, General & Internal; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; General & Internal Medicine; Science & Technology; Health Care Sciences & Services
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis prompted government and healthcare leaders to marshal resources from every corner of the nation to cope with surge demand. The focus has been on increasing floor and intensive care bed capacity, ventilator caches, and stores of lifesaving personal protective equipment (PPE). Similarly, public health measures such as broad testing and social distancing are being implemented with vigor. Beyond these on-the-ground battles, however, there is a larger war that policymakers and health system leaders need to consider: SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory pathogens are not one-time occurrences. The pandemic, along with its health and economic devastation, may recur in the second half of 2020, or possibly sooner as Southern hemisphere countries face winter from May onwards. Populations remain vulnerable as we are unlikely to see vaccines, reliable therapies, and universal testing anytime soon. Early, well-planned, and well-resourced pandemic preparedness for the next wave(s) is much needed and we need a transformation in America for how we prepare. We argue that our health and economy may be best served by strengthening the role of primary care in tackling the next wave(s), thereby reducing the burden on public health, emergency, and inpatient services. We discuss what will be required to equip primary care practices to lead early management and disease notification in the short time frame before the next wave.