As shelter in-place orders are lifted across the country and people have returned to routines and activities, many wonder what the “new normal” will look like: now and post coronavirus.
At the forefront of those conversations is discussion around public health and safety best practices. At YourTown Health, we are dedicated to being in the middle of those conversations and ensuring our patients and staff remain safe and healthy.
Although there is not one definition of a “new normal”, we’ve provided a list of a few changes we can expect when asking what’s the new normal.
How We Interact With One Another
During this pandemic, people have continued to stay connected to one another through technology. Many took to social media platforms, video chat, and phone calls as a method of communication with their loved ones.
Because of this, many are wondering if this form of communication is the only way to stay connected in the future. As many people are asking: “are handshakes part of the past?”, the simplest answer is – we don’t know.
For the time being, it’s very important to continue socially distancing ourselves and staying at least 6 feet apart when greeting or interacting with others. Here are some tips on how to greet someone while keeping up best social distancing practices:
Smile and nod, even with a mask or protective covering on.
Politely say “hello” or some other form of verbal greeting.
Focus on eye contact.
Follow-up with a wave.
The Even Bigger Rise in Telehealth
In the early development of the pandemic, many providers and healthcare organizations integrated telehealth into their practices to provide a safe and convenient means for patient care to continue. Although telehealth is not a new development, the repercussions of the coronavirus on in-person visits gave a necessary rush to the implementation and utilization of telehealth services.
Even after the pandemic, we can expect for telehealth visits to stay in our healthcare systems, especially as we continue to live in a world with constant changes in technology advancements.