Medina doctor urges preventive care through pandemic

MEDINA — Delaying regular checkups and preventative care has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a Medina doctor to draw up a yearly health checklist she's urging folks to follow. "COVID has definitely had a huge impact with people coming in for preventative and primary care," said Dr. Laura Distel, who practices at Cleveland Clinic's Medina Medical Office Building, 970 E. Washington St. "That can be a financial reason, people losing their jobs or didn't have insurance, and what we saw a lot of, people being scared to come in." "As far as preventative care, mammograms and colonoscopies are two of the bigger ones I've seen people wanting to delay," Distel said. "I think that's primarily because you can't do that from home. You have to actually come in. The hospital is a very safe place to come with all of our protocols in place. "We worry about having a delayed diagnosis. If you're delaying routine health care, the downside is a later diagnosis, and potentially, a worse outcome due to that late diagnosis." According to a Cleveland Clinic survey, many people have turned to the internet or friends and family for informal medical guidance instead of a health care professional during the pandemic. The same study also found that 32 percent of Americans and more than half of heart disease patients reported feeling at least one troubling symptom during the pandemic, such as increased blood pressure, dizziness, shortness of breath or increased blood sugar levels. Results also included 61 percent of respondents being unaware that heart disease puts you at a higher risk for a severe COVID-19 infection. Nearly 70 percent did not know that hypertension further exacerbates that risk. One-third of those surveyed incorrectly believed you're only at risk of long-term heart health effects from COVID-19 if you already have a preexisting heart condition, while a quarter were unaware that infection can affect the heart. Distel said safety measures taken in her building have drastically cut down on the number of employee absences due to normal cold or influenza, a trend that's made its way across most of the U.S. with historic lows in reported cases. Avoiding the normal yearly bout with flu has helped medical facilities avoid worst-case scenarios in terms of being inundated with flu patients while also providing care for severe COVID-19 infections. "I can envision the way we've ramped up disinfecting becoming permanent, something that's here to stay," Distel said. "The patient providers, everyone in the office wearing masks and face shields is probably going to be around a long time, too. We've cut down on the way we do our check-in process, too, with patients sitting in the waiting room. They're not gathering in a closed area, and I could see that continuing, as well." The doctor added that safety measures taken last year during severe COVID-19 case spikes included limiting appointments on certain days of the week to well-baby visits. "We had those days set aside to avoid mixing those well visits with sick visits," Distel said. "That was more of something we did in the beginning last year, but in the future, it could be something that comes back." Distel said resources have continued to be made available in her building for those experiencing financial barriers when it comes to seeking care including setting up payment plans and finding avenues to local aid. "No matter the reason, the cost of putting off care can potentially be far worse than why it's being put off," she said. "Our protocols and screening everyone who comes in continue to make this a very safe, sanitary place to be." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330) 721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.