CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to put routine visits or screenings at the doctor’s office on hold, but a Cook County health leader said now is the time to reconnect with your physicians.
Dr. Mark Loafman, Chair of Family and Community Medicine for Cook County Health, said taking care of your body is sort of like taking care of your car.
“You can wait until it dies on the highway, tow it in and try to get it worked on,” he said. “Or, you could try and do preventive maintenance to keep it running well. We’ve gotten very good in that.”
But, he said, many put off visiting the doctor in the middle of the pandemic, and for some, that delay has had serious consequences.
“We are seeing a significant increase in the number of people with more advanced disease, who missed chances to manage it proactively. We really are encouraging people to do catch-up right now.”
Dr. Loafman said the best thing to do is simply reach out to your doctor to find out what you may be overdue for. And for those still not comfortable with in person visits, he said virtual medicine has taken off in the last year.
“We can get so much done, it’s so much more convenient and time efficient for everyone involved,” he said. “It’s not going anywhere, that’s for sure.”
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