Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What lasting impact will COVID-19 have on the U.S. healthcare industry?
Position1 of 3›

Systematic changes to the once rigid healthcare process will occur

COVID-19 has affected Americans on many levels, but US healthcare has been directly reeling from the impact. The pandemic forced health care organizations to prioritize leadership, increase hospital staff to reduce burnout, and adopt a more successful model to avoid another long-term fallout.

Supporting arguments · 4

  1. The public health sector will be more heavily emphasized in the future
    The COVID-19 pandemic has caused just about every country to go on lockdown. The volumes of public health data and transmission preventative measures have become the responsibility of a few public health workers. This has shown the flaw in the healthcare system and in the future, it is likely that the public health sector will be more heavily emphasized. More people will join this sector in the upcoming decade.
  2. The fee-for-service healthcare model might be replaced with universal healthcare
    The American healthcare system relies on a large swath of the population to maintain employment. However, with unemployment numbers hitting highs unseen since The Great Depression, calls for public, government-funded healthcare are getting louder.
  3. Telehealth might become the next big innovative move in healthcare
    Telehealth is the ability to connect with doctors and medical personnel through the use of technology rather than physical visits to their offices. During the pandemic, it was the default option for most patients. Due to its effectiveness and ease, it is likely to become a permanent part of the healthcare landscape.
  4. The physician shortage crisis will be addressed
    America is facing a shortage of physicians, which is predicted to grow in future decades. The intensive course of education and training they have to pursue combined with financial and social challenges has dissuaded many from entering the field. By remedying these factors, there will be more doctors. The COVID-19 pandemic has especially highlighted how important it is to have more doctors in the healthcare system.