5 Years After COVID-19: How The Pandemic Reshaped Everyday Healthcare

Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 1.2 million lives in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus continues to influence public health behaviors.

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 21% of Americans still see COVID-19 as a major threat, and 74% believe in avoiding contact with vulnerable individuals when feeling unwell. While daily case counts are no longer making headlines, these findings signal a long-term shift in how people approach illness and prevention.

Dr. Benjamin Barlow, Chief Medical Officer at American Family Care (AFC), highlights four key lessons from the pandemic that remain relevant today.

Stay home when you’re sick: Barlow says pushing through an illness is no longer considered a “badge of honor.” Staying home when sick is now seen as a responsible way to prevent the spread of infection.

Prevention Saves Lives: Access to testing and vaccines played a crucial role in controlling outbreaks. When hospitals became overwhelmed at the height of the pandemic and it became more difficult to see primary care physicians, urgent care centers like AFC helped bridge the gap by providing rapid tests and vaccines.

Preparedness and Cohesive Response: State and local health agencies, along with healthcare providers, now recognize the need for stronger emergency plans and scalable strategies for future outbreaks.

Urgent Care Fills the Gap: During the pandemic, urgent care centers provided essential services when hospitals were stretched thin. Their accessibility and affordability continue to make them a preferred healthcare option today.

AFC played a leading role in expanding access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines through its more than 400 nationwide clinics. Dr. Barlow, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, oversaw those efforts, drawing on his experience as a former senior White House physician during the Obama and Trump administrations and as former medical director of the emergency department at Langley Air Force Base.

As the nation moves forward, Barlow says the lessons of COVID-19 continue to shape healthcare today, as well as how Americans approach healthcare in daily life.