Making Prevention a Priority

The dance of delay. “Particularly in COVID times, a lot of the preventive care has been delayed, people aren’t going to the doctor unless they really need to and, as a result, we’re detecting cancer later and, unfortunately, with worse outcomes,” said Dr. Dan Flaugher, board-certified family medicine provider at Berkeley Family Practice.

Worth the wince. Screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms are regarded as invasive and potentially uncomfortable but can be lifesaving. The medical community urges patients to schedule these screenings routinely.

Patient patients. As patients are anxious to regain control over their health and return to a semblance of normalcy, doctors and health care systems are feeling the pressure of their diminished workforce and an increased demand. Dr. Flaugher asks patients to be patient and flexible when making appointments as medical organizations adjust to post-pandemic needs.