Publisher's Statement on the Coronavirus Pandemic
It's been said there is opportunity in crisis. This has proven true for those who look beyond their current circumstance to the heart of the issues at hand. While the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the U.S. and other countries, there is also news from China that the impact is subsiding. Many are beginning to ask: How will our culture change in the wake of this current pandemic and what opportunities will arise?
- Believe it or not, pandemics happen fairly regularly (although this particular one has caused an unprecedented response, particularly here in the U.S.)
- Current solutions center around isolation, rather than a cure.
- Healthy people are less likely to suffer complications from the virus.
Patients and consumers are looking for answers beyond the rapidly escalating "stay home and stay safe" policies. The chiropractic and acupuncture professions MPA Media, publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic and Acupuncture Today, serves have an unprecedented opportunity to educate and inform their patients and communities about the benefits of maintaining optimal health and wellness.
Increasing the body's ability to fight disease is the ultimate solution to every virus and disease threat. This includes boosting the immune system, reducing pain and inflammation, and other forms of care that optimize mental, physical and spiritual health.
Practitioners should be communicating these truths to their patients in their offices (if open), through email and on social media. This information will resonate with most consumers, allowing them to see and understand their health differently. The world needs you now, more than ever.
If your practice is open and accepting patients, it's essential to ensure your protocols protect patients and staff from coronavirus (or any virus) transmission. Every patient should feel 100 percent safe, from the waiting room to the treatment room and back. This is particularly critical for your elderly patients, who are at greater risk of complications from the virus.
Also keep in mind that as a health care practitioner, it's your responsibility to know the signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection, and what to do if you suspect a patient is infected. Protection and identification should be top of mind in every encounter.
To the best of their ability, the companies that support the chiropractic and acupuncture professions also should continue to provide practitioners with products, services and equipment that will assist them in caring for greater numbers of patients who want to continue to maintain optimal health during and particularly after this pandemic has passed. More people will be seeking your health and wellness services than ever.
The crisis we face today is filled with opportunities to change the American health care culture from sickness to wellness. With a little effort from each practitioner, we can expect to increase the number of patients seeking health care, rather than sick care. Remember a coronavirus vaccine is not a solution; it is just another drug added to the growing list of medications too many people unwittingly take.
The professionals we serve are health care providers and small-business owners. The vendors who supply the products and services you use in practice are likewise small-business owners in many cases. Take heart in knowing resources are available for you in this challenging time:
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources (Click here)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Information for Healthcare Professionals (Click here)
- CDC: Regularly updated information on COVID-19 (Click here)
Dynamic Chiropractic and Acupuncture Today will continue to provide you with the most up-to-date information, as well as an outlook of what is on the horizon. As has already been stated by the health authorities, printed mail, including our publications, is safe from transmission of viruses. For those who would like to get their news and information earlier, you can find our digital editions online.
Please don't overlook this opportunity to make a difference in the health of your community. Even if you are unable to directly treat patients right now, you can be taking steps to educate your community about the power of a healthy immune system and the power of your care.
Our nation – the world – needs to be significantly healthier in order to face future pandemics. You are a critical part of the solution. Let's not keep it a secret.
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/ wrblog. You can also visit me on Facebook and Twitter (donpetersenjr, @donaldpetersen).
Click here for more information about Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher.