Table 3.

COVID-19 Impact on the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Theme	Representative Quote(s)
Minimizing Interactions	“With the Coronavirus outbreak [the] less often they come into the room, the better I guess.”
	“I also feel like I had to interact with ten different people during the time I was getting stitches, which I felt like was completely unnecessary especially considering the COVID times. If we didn’t have to switch rooms in between I could have minimized contact with other people”
	“The Emergency Department was a mess. I know Coronavirus is going around, I understand that, but the other thing was that it was disheartening that we were only allowed one visitor in the ER room.”
A Focus Only on COVID-19	“No, perfect. They did a COVID test and were very proactive.” “My big issue was that I did not have COVID and so they kicked me out of the hospital, but then I came back to the hospital the next day with an even higher fever. I feel like if the doctors had not been so focused on COVID they would not have let me go only to come back a day later and be diagnosed with viral meningitis.”
	“I was also offered a chance to take a COVID test which I thought was a good idea as well.”
Under the Circumstances	“I thought with everything going on, my visit went much better than I anticipated. Everyone was really good to me. The doctor was great, especially under the circumstances right now.”
	“There was only one thing and it wasn’t [the provider’s] fault. It’s a little different now with the virus”
	“Under the circumstances, [the provider] was okay.”
	“With this COVID 19, they are all learning on the fly. I don’t think there is anything they could have done differently to be honest with you...we all have been through a lot. The medical profession is trying to help us.”
	“I know they are busy and COVID is happening”
	“Oh, no I think they moved along pretty quickly for an ER considering the current restrictions. So I was actually quite pleased.”
	“This visit was at the beginning of the COVID virus and I worked in the ED and am familiar with how they operate. I do not understand how they could have kept their calm in the situation. The waiting room was full and the staff maintained professionalism.”
	“No, it’s during the COVID crisis so under those circumstances there was nothing else they could have done”
	“[The provider] had a lot going on and trying to be very quick and [the provider] stepped up to that but a little on the harsh side. In a couple years I went back with this and I got the same treatment I’d be surprised but we don’t know anything about Coronavirus so [the provider] just told me to self quarantine and rest up and that’s about it. But I get it, we don’t know much about this right now.”
	“All of this chaos was going on, but I think they handled the chaos very well... It’s very busy and considering that, it’s a good outcome. Under the circumstances, I don’t think [the provider] could have because it was a stressful environment. There were people literally lined up in the hallways.”
	“Everyone was so friendly…It is a hard time for everybody.”
	“I think it was mostly being unnerved that they were going through the COVID-19 stuff right now. I think [the provider] did the best [the provider] could given the circumstances.”