COVID-19 Pandemic Podcast Series - The US Perspective

Description

This podcast episode features Andrew Duckworth, who hosts a discussion with Professor Ken Egol, an orthopedic surgery expert at NYU Langone Health in New York City. The focus is on the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems, particularly in trauma and orthopedic surgery, and how they are adapting during these challenging times. They discuss the elimination of elective surgeries and the ongoing management of trauma cases, which, surprisingly, have decreased in volume due to societal changes brought by the pandemic.



Professor Egol shares insights on the staff's redeployment to critical areas such as ICUs, reflecting a united healthcare effort to combat the crisis. They address the psychological and logistical challenges faced by healthcare workers, including the fear of virus exposure and the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), which they have thankfully managed to secure in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, they touch upon the shift to telehealth services in outpatient care, enhancing efficiency in patient consultations.



As they look towards the future, both Duckworth and Egol acknowledge the potential long-term changes in healthcare practices as a result of lessons learned during the pandemic, emphasizing the resilience of the healthcare community and their commitment to patient care. The conversation concludes with a message of hope and solidarity for healthcare workers worldwide.

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