Hospital Visits That Could Be Avoided: What Changed During COVID-19?

In many wealthy nations, doctors use avoidable hospitalizations (AHs) as a way to check how good primary care is. But in places like China, this method isn't used much. The COVID-19 pandemic brought big changes to healthcare. Yet, there's not much research on how AHs shifted before and during the pandemic. This makes it hard to say if AHs are a good way to measure primary care quality during such times.

The Pandemic's Impact on Healthcare

The pandemic changed many things. It made people think differently about going to the hospital. Some visits might have been skipped or delayed. But were these avoidable? This is a tricky question. The pandemic showed that healthcare systems can be stretched thin. It also showed that sometimes, people might not go to the hospital even when they should.

Data from Beijing

Looking at data from Beijing, China, researchers found some interesting patterns. Before the pandemic, the number of AHs was steady. But during the pandemic, things changed. Some conditions saw fewer AHs. Others saw more. This could be because people were scared of going to the hospital. Or maybe they couldn't get the care they needed.

The Rise of Telemedicine

The pandemic also made people rely more on telemedicine. This is when doctors and patients talk online instead of in person. It's a good way to get care without going to the hospital. But does this count as an AH? It's not clear. The pandemic forced healthcare systems to adapt. It also made people think about what really counts as an avoidable hospital visit.

Conclusion

In the end, the pandemic showed that measuring primary care quality is complex. AHs might not be the best way to do it. The pandemic changed how people use healthcare. It also changed how doctors provide care. Understanding these changes is important. It can help make healthcare better for everyone.