Changes during COVID that you think may "stick"?

Moderators

Hey All,

We'd be interested in hearing what changes to healthcare that have happened during the COVID-19 pandemic do you think will become routine? What changes do you hope to see stick? What about changes in our personal everyday lives?

Thanks !

The Mods

Ingerp

I’ll go first. Expanded telehealth. My organization is already talking about more telework after we come out of this. Hopefully hand washing stays high. An enhanced appreciation for exercising outdoors. Sustained increased contact with distant family and friends. Also greater appreciation for teachers, medical workers, grocery store clerks, transportation workers,all of the support staff required to maintain all of it.

LaughingGull

(I will go second; and I am based in the US)

I expect an increased focus (a reckoning) on the causes of inequality in health outcomes.

I expect a move towards some baseline level of universal health care. Including but not limited to tele-medicine. Also an intervention to bring down the prices of medicines.

I expect an increased focus on wellness and exercising.

On non-health aspects, I expect that business attire will become a lot less formal. Wondering if anybody will ever wear a suit again. Definitely not me!

gb2115

Definitely more telehealth. I had my first telehealth appt and thought it was really great. Some things really need to be examined in person, but other things can be handled online.

Hopefully everyone will keep washing their hands...

SummerAngel

Call me a cynic but i doubt any of the changes will stick. I would like to see more appreciation for health care workers and those who keep our supply chain functioning, more hand washing, less hand shaking, more people working from home. I would be absolutely thrilled to see a move towards universal health coverage, I've been an advocate for that since I was in my 20's.

Moderators

Such interesting perspectives! Looking forward to hearing more!

ctmbsikia

I think all health care providers and hospitals want to go back to their normal way of making money, but have the capability now of telemed for when there is a local out break, or spike in a certain area. I don't see it becoming "normal" as they wouldn't be able to bill as much as an in person visit.

moth

I think masking during respiratory virus seasons will become increasingly normalized - even if covid19 is vanquished

HOPE012119

More maintenance therapy at home. Zoladex at home starts next month for me. Fingers crossed I do it right :)It will be a time-saver for me (and less costly I imagine) to continue doing the injections at home rather than at the hospital.

morrigan_2575

I'm pretty cynical I don't think any appreciation friend teachers, nurses, grocery store workers or restaurant workers will stick. Sadly, because they deserve at least $15/hourand a lot of respect.

I do think telehealth will stick around and, I'm happy for that. I actually think this will help us move towards M4All that want it and improvements in the ACA. However, it will take dwcades before we can get to a UK or Canada style universal healthcare system.

Day to day life, I think masks will become more in favor (like in Asian countries). I also think better hygiene will come into play. More people using hand sanitizer and, washing hands, being more attentive to not touching their face.

WC3

Well I'm a germophobe so part of me is pretty thrilled that people in the general public are wearing masks and washing their hands more.

Claire_in_Seattle

I just presented the findings from a similar study via a Zoom professional meeting. This was a first for me that never would have happened if not for COVID-19. Some of the things mentioned plus a few of my own observations:

• Technology adoption. Video conferencing is here to stay. This affects a lot of the ways business will be conducted in the future. A lot more online meetings and educational events. I brought up telehealth which is certainly the case with my healthcare system. Get togethers with families and friends.
• Zoom dating. I had a 4 hour date with a good looking dude on the other side of the country last night. We both went through a number of IPAs. Someone I met in conjunction with some work I did a year ago. He is changing up his business model to include an online element.
• Video streaming for first run movies. This from Nielsen, who monitor media consumption.
• Currently, there is a movement back to more traditional brands for cleaning supplies that are cheap and effective.
• Going back to health, the ability to get second opinions across state lines without having to spend thousands of dollars on travel. This one is huge.
• A lot more education via online methods. Major upheaval both for secondary schools and universities. Ability to take classes globally.
• A huge disruption in the job market as these industries shift to a new business model. This will result in job loss for some, and major business opportunities for others. My friend who designs online curriculum for secondary school students is golden.
• I think there will still be a place for business attire, but much less so than before. I certainly dressed up to present at the major industry event. There is also an opportunity for "camera-ready" makeup. I just ordered up a huge supply of items that make me look a lot better on camera.
• Will all the walking I see people doing outside continue??
• One very funny observation is that the current mania for washing hands does not appear to extend to the rest of the body for a lot of people. Sales of soap and deodorant are down sharply. Ew!
• Home redesign to better accommodate home offices. Probably will negatively impact commercial real estate. Business opportunities for small contractors who can redesign existing houses to "find" office space.
• Belt tightening around a lot of items: personal care, clothing, travel, high end all sorts of items. Potentially, more frugal living. Economy contracting in response to less consumer spending.
• A lot of innovation and the need to adapt to new ways of doing things.

From my own experience in business, there is still a need to socialize in person. Not everyday for knowledge workers and customer service personnel, but there is a need for bonding and for feeling you are part of the team. I have managed people remotely, and it presents its own challenges. We also learned in the research that technology can only go so far, and that people yearn for human touch.

A lot of behavior we see right now is the result of people being "shell shocked" and terrified. But not everyone is. On the team of three who conducted this research, one is hiding at home and will not go out, one goes out in great fear, and I do mostly what I have done prior to the need to stay-at-home and social distance. But I don't encounter crowds when I go out and I am naturally introverted. Long solo bicycle rides are nothing new. That said, I do miss my friends.

The big test will be how soon after we get the "all clear" people will readily head out to socialize with friends in crowded places where it's difficult to wear a mask. I think the answer will depend on the person, and their individual need for social contact versus the degree of fear and being shell shocked.

Some will return to bars and restaurants immediately, while for some, it could be years before they dare to venture out. Let's hope it's sooner rather than later for my friends who make their livings as servers and bartenders, not to mention the owners of these businesses. Because "stimulus" can only go so far. - Claire

bcincolorado

Wearing of masks in public for at least a few years will be the norm I believe at least. Even though we are easing restrictions here a little bit in parts of Colorado it is called Safer at Home at this point and we are here for the time being at least. Ordering food from the grocery store delivered to the house or our car for pick up is going is probably our norm for a bit.

HersheyKiss

I've never liked those touch-screen terminals in airports, banks, dental offices, etc. The same goes for handheld signing devices that UPS and DHL drivers carry. How many people touch them per day? Are they ever cleaned or disinfected? I hope that technology or process changes out or is abandoned altogether.

GG27

I hate in restaurants that the servers bring the handheld pay machines and hand it to me. I try to ask as nicely as i can to please set it down on the table and some servers give a me "the look" but who's right now. they are disgusting, rarely ever wiped down. So i hope those change. And just overall cleanliness. friends used to give me a bad time about being a germaphobe because i wanted them to wash their hands when they came into my house, but who's the germaphobe now??