Patient Advocacy During COVID-19

摘要

The shutdowns across the globe in response to COVID-19have created tremendous hardships for the public. In additionto the economic costs, many people have been unableto receive care for their orthopedic conditions as hospitalshave sought to conserve resources and slow the spread of disease.The mitigation strategies were important to protect the vulnerableand maintain health care capacity, but many local and state governmentsare now pushing for the return to a “new normal.” Ashospitals permit the scheduling of elective cases, it is importantto understand that the presence of the pandemic did not eliminatethe musculoskeletal pathology requiring care. Advocacy on behalfof patients with orthopedic conditions is essential as society progressesthrough this and future crises.