Tag Archives: doctor

Kurt Papenfus, a doctor in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, started to feel sick around Halloween. He developed a scary cough, intestinal symptoms and a headache. In the midst of a pandemic, the news that he had COVID-19 wasn’t surprising, but Papenfus’ illness would have repercussions far beyond his own health.

An estimated 8% of all physician practices nationally — around 16,000 — have closed under the stress of the pandemic. And another 7% of primary care practices were unsure they could stay open past December without financial assistance.

Across the U.S., thousands of doctors, dentists and other health care providers temporarily closed offices this spring as state health officials directed them to suspend non-urgent visits. Many others sat open but largely idle because patients were too scared to visit the doctor.

Nearly a month into the declared pandemic, some health care workers say they’re exhausted and burning out from the stress of treating a stream of critically ill patients in an increasingly overstretched health care system.

People with cancer are among those at high risk of complications if infected with the new coronavirus. More than 600,000 people are receiving chemotherapy although doctors are recommending postponing those treatments.

Doctors identify steps that should be taken by insurance companies and others to support physicians and their practices during the COVID-19 emergency.

As Wei Wei Lee sat with her doctor to discuss starting a family, she felt a “distance” between them. The physician was busy on the ...

“Amazon Echo”by adambowie is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Now that it’s upending the way you play music, cook, shop, hear the news and check ...

By Stephanie O’Neill Air Force veteran Billy Ramos, from Simi Valley, Calif., is 53 and gets health insurance for himself and for his family from Medicaid — ...

By Michael F Myers, MD It is well known that many people are impacted when individuals kill themselves: family members, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, to ...