Yes our health system has lots of waste. But @sjauhar’s op-Ed makes incorrect assumptions that are just flat out wrong (thread)
1/ Back in late March/early April, I saw the most string of codes (or patients who essentially were had died at home) in my career. Why is that? 🤔
2/ well we know there has been a spike in extra non-Covid deaths, likely from avoiding hospital care nytimes.com/interactive/20…
2/ STEMIs (acute heart attacks that need cardiology intervention) have dropped 40% worldwide...are we just healthier during Covid? tctmd.com/news/mystery-m…
3/ We already know they were excessive deaths in Italy due to not being able to go to hospital or see family doctors google.com/amp/s/nymag.co…
4/ when this is said & done, we will likely find out the biggest mortality & morbidity from Covid was not the virus itself, but the frank overwhelming of the system like we saw a New York, Spain, and northern Italy washingtonpost.com/investigations…
6/ to say “people were fine” not seeing doctors or ER’s (whose volumes dropped 50% during March/April) is a disingenuous, unfounded and frankly dangerous statement
7/ Hospitals are doing a good job separating Covid patients —you likely to get it in the community than in a hospital. A reminder that the ER is here for you 24/7/365 news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/…
8/ while I agree our healthcare system has lots of unnecessary procedures and waste, patients should not avoid seeing their doctors are going to ER if they have concerning symptoms (fin) google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.…
