03-19-2020, 10:26 AM
(03-19-2020, 10:20 AM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: I’ve covered most of this already four pages ago. For the most part you’re correct. But, the CDC and the DPH have established a testing protocol which local hospitals use to establish their testing protocols because there is a shortage. So we are in essence rationing the tests to determine who gets a test and who doesn’t. We give that information out to the public so they know who gets tested and who doesn’t. And testing does influence patient behavior. Many times without a positive test result for something patients don’t believe you. Or in the absence of testing the believe they have something they don’t and no amount of patient education will change their mind.
Then on the other hand Mike Pence is announcing if you don’t have symptoms you don’t need testing while Trump and entire NBA teams get tested when the obviously don’t meet the testing protocol.
This mixed messaging undercuts all the information we as providers give to patients about the testing protocol. There is already enough confusion and they just keep adding to it. Me personally, I can’t stand double standards. Especially when it comes to medical care.
When the White House doesn’t follow their own guidance to the public making it more difficult for me to educate the public it pisses me off. I can assure you there isn’t anything fake about it.
If all you are testing is the people who obviously show signs aren't you testing the people who need to "know" the least? It's the asymptomatic people who are going to be spreading this most rapidly as millions of those people are infected and have no idea. If you are sick, you are most likely already changing your behavior as you would do with the flu if you show no signs many are still going to go to work and continue the spread. If you are really sick you are probably going to the hospital anyways for shortness of breath, etc.
This has been my issue with testing from the start, it is essentially one large confirmation bias exercise as it's being done currently.