Millions of Americans have postponed lifesaving screenings and other preventative care due to COVID-19.
Doctors performed 67 percent fewer mammograms, conducted almost 72 percent fewer colonoscopies, and administered 22 percent fewer childhood vaccines in March and April than in January and February 2020, before the pandemic began. And while the total number of doctor’s visits and screenings rebounded somewhat this summer and fall, they’re still not back to pre-pandemic levels in many areas.
In early 2020, patients’ fears of catching COVID-19 at doctor’s offices and hospitals were understandable. But we’ve learned a lot since then.
Today, it’s clear that foregoing care is usually ...