New Study Claims Adults Are Delaying, Avoiding Routine Doctor Visits

A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that more adults have been skipping routine medical care due to the pandemic.

OU’s Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said doctors are concerned about this new study because the consequences of skipping out on medical care could be more serious down the line.

The CDC report claims about 41% of adults say they are either delaying or avoiding routine health screenings because of fears of COVID-19. About 12% of those surveyed said they also avoided urgent or emergency care when they needed it.

OU's Doctor Dale Bratzler said he's worried people who skip out on things like cancer screenings right now may not catch the disease early.

Doctor Bratzler said even if you're elderly or have underlying conditions, do not be afraid to still see your doctor.

"Most healthcare settings now are very safe,” said Dr. Bratzler. “Healthcare systems have put into place all of the procedures to keep people safe and please don't avoid medical care that is necessary and remember preventative care because it's very important this time of year."

Dr. Bratzler said he's also encouraging people to get their flu shots as we get closer to flu season.