By Renee Jensen

The rise of COVID-19 has changed the way the healthcare industry and our society operate, seemingly overnight. The uncertainty of the future is sobering and stressful, but I believe there may be a silver lining to this experience that is hard to see when you’re in the thick of a pandemic. Once we get through the heat of the moment, we could see some positive changes to our families, health, communities, and the way care is delivered.

Healthier communities

Better quality of life.  

Working from home is certainly an adjustment, but the habits we are forming while quarantined will improve our quality of life. We’re eating out less often and cooking at home more using fresh ingredients rather than harder-to-find non-perishable food. Families are spending more time together. Parents-turned-teachers are more engaged in their children’s learning than ever before. With reduced travel to and from work, comes less stress, fewer traffic accidents, and a reduced carbon footprint. This may be the perfect trial of “remote working” that companies and employees needed to begin to embrace an alternative to cubicles and crowded offices.

Increased physical activity. 

Spending the majority of our time in our own homes has people more desperate than ever to get outside. Being limited by stay-at-home orders has given people a renewed awareness of the importance of physical exercise.

I was out for a run a few weeks ago right after my home state of Washington’s first stay-at-home order. The sun was out, and there were so many people—young and old—exercising while maintaining their social distance. The coronavirus may deepen our appreciation for our health and motivate us to do more to maintain it. With increased time at home we are able to prioritize our physical health.

Emphasis on mental health.

We have been told that social distancing is essential for flattening the curve and slowing the spread of the virus. But there are rising concerns that this extended time in isolation for those who live alone or in a care facility, or are part of a high-risk population, may lead to increases in depression or substance abuse. These are legitimate concerns, and I am encouraged by the open conversation on mental health and new efforts to reach out to those who are struggling. I am hopeful that the increased spotlight and financial resources focused on mental health will have a greater long-term impact.

Embracing vaccinations.

One of the reasons that the coronavirus is so detrimental is that there is currently no vaccine to prevent it. If there were no flu vaccine, the flu would be equally devastating year after year. We are protected by herd immunity. In Washington, there is a large non-vaccination movement. I wonder if experiencing on a global level the harmful effects of a virus with no available vaccine will change how we think about and approach vaccinations.

Fewer “needs.” 

A trip down the paper products aisle at the grocery store is evidence of the disruption the coronavirus has created in our ability to get the things we need. With the need to limit exposure, fewer trips to the grocery store, and the temporary closure of all our favorite local shopping venues, perhaps we will rethink what is a true need and what we can live without, and reprioritize our lives in the process.

Stronger healthcare industry

Telemedicine.

In some disciplines, the healthcare industry has struggled to fully integrate telemedicine as part of our basic infrastructure. But with the current conditions under COVID-19, physicians and patients are using it more and becoming comfortable with the technology. What was once shied away from because of the fear of the unknown is now a potentially life-saving tool, offering an alternative to in-person visits for vulnerable populations, while still ensuring access to their care providers. I believe the virus will be the tipping point that makes telemedicine a permanent part of how we deliver care.

Adaptability.

Since my first time experiencing Uber on a business trip, I have been fascinated with its immediate influence on the transportation industry. The taxi industry has had a corner on the market for generations, and because of that taxis have always done things the same way. Overnight, Uber forced a disruption in the ingrained ways of the transportation industry, and competitors had to be quick to adapt to the new norm.

Healthcare isn’t that different. I started my CEO career leading a rural hospital. Often, you’ll see innovative changes in small hospitals before larger systems, because small hospitals have fewer resources, less ability to recover from large swings, and in general are nimbler by nature. Larger hospitals require more structure. It’s not easy to make quick, sweeping changes to such large organizations. But COVID-19 has disrupted the way we care for patients, and it will never be the same. COVID-19 could very well be the “Uber” healthcare needed to really transform how we deliver care. One thing is for sure—we won’t be doing things “because that’s the way we have always done them.” 

Increased investment in rescue medicine.

The U.S. has been criticized for the amount of money spent on healthcare without a significant improvement in health status compared to other countries. But one thing we do very well is rescue medicine. For COVID-19 patients that end up in an ICU, this may mean the difference between life and death. When the pandemic passes, the world may re-evaluate the investment the U.S. has made in rescue medicine and life-saving resources.

In our society as well as the healthcare industry, the coronavirus will have a long-term, permanent impact on how we live. Things cannot go back to how they were before, but I believe that the positive changes can outweigh the negative if we embrace this as an opportunity. Better days are ahead.