Why the solution for the “triple-demic” may lie outside the hospital

The recent “triple-demic” of COVID, flu and RSV once again strained our healthcare system to its limit. Hospitalizations for respiratory illness spiked to the highest levels in years, with the greatest risk falling on the most vulnerable: children and older adults. And this spike only exacerbated the widespread burnout that clinicians and health systems were already grappling with.

These challenges require more than stop-gap measures. We need a wholesale mindset shift. In an era of endemic COVID and aging populations, we must extend the frontlines of care beyond the hospital to new settings, both in the community and at home. This is the only way to end the cycle of surging infection, overloaded hospitals and professional burnout.

While this shift began years ago, a new generation of medical technologies promises to dramatically expand what’s possible in retail pharmacies, out patient settings and in the home. Today, rapid diagnostic testing for COVID, flu, RSV and strep is widely available, and people with chronic diseases are increasingly using safe, simple devices to handle straightforward care themselves.

As these applications become the norm, they will transform care delivery.

We are moving toward a world where only the most complex or severe cases ever enter an acute, in-patient setting. This will reduce the burden on strained clinicians, while cutting down on infectious spread and empowering people to better understand and manage their health.

The COVID pandemic provides lessons for how best to achieve this goal. First, we know consumers are eager for more convenient care. People are now accustomed to community-based settings and at-home tests for COVID, laying the foundation for similar diagnostic options for other diseases. However, we must ensure these diagnostics are fast, accurate, and easy to use and interpret.

Second, we know that diagnostics are essential. Widespread access to a variety of tests enables people to make safe, informed decisions that protect themselves, their families and their communities. This is key to every aspect of daily life, from school to work to travel. But we need to make greater use of the diagnostics already available, with clear, consistent public health messaging about when to use them and how to act on the results.

Third, we know the greatest need lies at the intersection of chronic and infectious disease. When respiratory diseases spread freely, those with pre-existing conditions face the greatest risk, from both infection and interruptions in care. More accessible testing and vaccines can help to curb the spread, while new tools can help patients and caregivers manage chronic disease at home, insulating them from any disruptions.

At 美国BD公司 , we are working on solutions that reach across this spectrum of needs. Our diagnostic systems can rapidly test for infectious disease in the community, so clinicians, decision-makers and patients can get the information they need, when they need it. And our devices for chronic care needs, such as medication management and home incontinence, bring proven solutions from the clinic to the home.

Finally, perhaps the most important lesson of COVID is that each of us plays a key role in public health. Ultimately, the shift to new care settings isn’t just about where care happens – it’s about empowering everyone with the tools to protect our health and contribute to stronger, healthier communities overall.