Are You At Risk?
There has been extensive news coverage on the repercussions of delaying medical care, but the fact remains that many are still fearful of visiting a doctor or hospital right now. In a recent study, Americans were asked how safe they felt seeking care in a variety of scenarios. As you can see from the graphic below, doubts regarding safety still widely remain.

The consequences of delaying care are serious and widespread. In May, Medscape.com reported that screenings for breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer were down 39%-90% in early April, compared with February. Because of this disruption, “more than 80,000 diagnoses of five common cancers may [have been] missed or delayed” within a three-month period during the pandemic.

The American Journal of Managed Care published a similar article in July, projecting a roughly 10% increase in cancer-related deaths over the next five years, due to delays in routine care.

Preventive care should not be delayed. Well visits, screenings, and other diagnostic appointments are crucial in preventing and detecting chronic diseases.

We’re here for you, and we want to remind you that Mount Sinai has implemented significant precautionary measures across the hospital and our physicians’ offices to keep our patients and staff safe.

We are continuing our strict protocols to keep COVID-19 patients and the staff that cares for them separate from the rest of our hospital population. Our emergency centers also continue to triage potential COVID-19 patients away from other patients entering them. Our physician offices have been reconfigured to allow for proper distancing, and we have implemented prescreening protocols and temperature checks upon arrival, among other measures.

Visiting your doctor or an emergency center is safe, and Mount Sinai will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of all patients who entrust us with their care.