Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Why we must keep learning from the coronavirus pandemic

Cory Michael, MD
Conditions
June 14, 2020
Share
Tweet
Share

Looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, I hope that we are able to take away several lessons.

Immediately after the virus showed up in the United States, many physicians without access to virus testing seemed to go straight to imaging for an answer. While a few imaging tests proved to be useful in the most typical radiologic presentations of the disease, the evidence supporting this specificity or the lack thereof was not clearly evident until testing for the virus was more readily available. In the pediatric population, viral respiratory illnesses are common, and radiology reporting methods commonly refer to viral illnesses in a generic sense of the term. I hope that we learn that imaging is not the automatic answer to every new medical question.

In some areas, access to the swabs needed to collect samples was the limiting factor in implementing testing. For years, both in my prior career in the medical laboratory and in medicine, we were taught the concepts of Lean manufacturing, and COVID-19 exposed the limitation of this approach. In Lean, industries are taught to avoid waste by only keeping enough supplies on hand to meet needs. When emergencies require a massive need, having limited supply chains can be quickly exhausted. This is even more true with personal protective equipment. We need to remember this moving forward.

I don’t know any more about the virus than I did in March, which is frankly a dark day for science. I see these very imprecise projections, nobody knows if prior infection confers immunity, and most of the country is stuck in this purgatory-like state with no answers coming. I have read no explanation as to why vaccine research was not successful for the previous coronavirus-related diseases. Printed scientific journals are just now publishing a slew of minimally relevant disorganized perspectives on COVID-19, yet another reason why classical academic medicine is horribly behind the times. If we have to wait months for a publication cycle to complete, the value of the information becomes stale. Reading science in a journal now is like looking at a star in the sky without realizing that the light coming from it was produced thousands of years ago.

I looked back at podcasts through March, and the tone regarding COVID-19 changed so rapidly. First, economically-minded influencers dismissed the likelihood of shutdowns; and then some of these people panicked when the virus flourished in mid-March. Bloggers like me worked hard to be as optimistic and patriotic as possible, and some stability returned to the economy through governmental subsidy. Now, only three months later, my employer extended travel restrictions, but Memorial Day was, unfortunately, business as usual in many parks and beaches. There is clearly a disconnect. Our approach to limit physical distancing has been relatively half-hearted. I just don’t think that we can convince Americans to act solely for the benefit of the vulnerable. This is troubling news should something like this happen again.

In my department, outpatient imaging tapered sharply, causing significant financial strain. Now, we are in a race to refill imaging appointments, as some centers doing less detailed scans may schedule faster and lower quality MRI techniques. This exposes a problem with our billing system. A bad MRI pays the same as a good MRI. There is no incentive to innovate.

Telehealth has emerged as a viable industry. I worry if this becomes overutilized. It definitely has its place, but it creates an opportunity for people to use this as a profit center when sometimes people need to be seen. I learned that my blood pressure medication refills were being driven by the pharmacy, and when my doctor asked to see me via telehealth to get more refills, I declined. I haven’t needed more refills in over a year, and when I have my annual physical, I want to get an actual physical.

Still, there are some silver linings. Working from home makes me a better radiologist with fewer distractions and much enhanced work-life balance. I was applying for new jobs when COVID-19 hit, but I will stay at my current position if I can continue this. Incidentally, I received about $15,000 in student loan payment relief if my loans are forgiven later this year on schedule.

I also recently did some continuing education via the virtual session of a meeting that had been canceled. I could view more recorded talks, engage in live chats with other viewers, and spend far less money.

The important thing is that we keep learning and try to remain positive. This is something that I will have to remind myself while I put a mask on to enter a boarded-up department store after watching a sporting event with no fans in the stands. Stay well!

Cory Michael is a radiologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

COVID and mental health awareness in health care

June 14, 2020 Kevin 0
…
Next

Questions you should ask before elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

June 14, 2020 Kevin 0
…

ADVERTISEMENT

Tagged as: COVID, Infectious Disease, Radiology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
COVID and mental health awareness in health care
Next Post >
Questions you should ask before elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Cory Michael, MD

  • Inequity contributes to burnout among new academic physicians

    Cory Michael, MD
  • Missouri and Texas: a tale of 2 COVID cultures

    Cory Michael, MD
  • The coronavirus vaccine is not a political or social issue

    Cory Michael, MD

Related Posts

  • How the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for social media training in medical education 

    Oscar Chen, Sera Choi, and Clara Seong
  • The power of poetry during a pandemic

    Anna Delamerced
  • An outdated law is limiting our coronavirus response

    Leah Hampson Yoke, PA-C
  • Approach the gun violence epidemic like we do with coronavirus

    Charles Nozicka, DO
  • Coronavirus and my doctor daughter

    Carol Ewig
  • When learning medicine is not enough

    Hanna Saltzman

More in Conditions

  • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

    Maire Daugharty, MD
  • Why medicine must stop worshipping burnout and start valuing humanity

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Why perinatal mental health is the top cause of maternal death in the U.S.

    Sheila Noon
  • A world without vaccines: What history teaches us about public health

    Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH
  • Unraveling the mystery behind one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications: preeclampsia

    Thomas McElrath, MD, PhD and Kara Rood, MD
  • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

    Noah Weinberg
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...