90 Days of Headlines and The Key to Re-Open Hospitals

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted every industry in the global economy, and none have been more adversely affected than healthcare.  Many private practices have all but temporarily shuttered, while hospitals have been severely strained both to meet the demand for care of the virus as well as from the intentional delay of elective procedures and care that has been pushed to future dates yet to be determined.  In the age of “instant updates” via various digital media, there have been headlines that tell the story and perhaps guidance as to how hospitals will resume “normal” operations.

 

Inundated With Flu Patients, U.S. Hospitals Brace for Coronavirus
Resources are already stretched during flu season. – New York Times, February 7, 2020

Hospitals across the US prepare for coronavirus outbreak to become global pandemic – CNBC, February 20, 2020

12+ health systems canceling, postponing surgeries due to the coronavirus outbreak – Becker’s Hospital Review, March 16, 2020

Atlanta hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus patients – CBS News, March 25, 2020

U.S. hospitals halt lucrative procedures amid coronavirus crisis, job cuts follow – Reuters, March 31, 2020

Colorado hospitals prepare to resume non-emergency surgeries next week as coronavirus rules relax – The Denver Post, April, 21, 2020

Hospitals Struggle to Restart Lucrative Elective Care After Coronavirus Shutdowns – New York Times, May 9, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic Continues to Ravage Hospital Finances, Driving April Operating Margins Down 282% – KaufmanHall, May 21, 2020

 

And the list continues on indefinitely.  Looking at a sampling of more recent headlines as hospitals contemplate a restart of elective procedures, one quote paints the picture facing hospital systems.  “More than 1.4 million jobs in the (healthcare) sector were lost last month. … Hospitals could find themselves in a Catch-22, where they do not have enough … supplies and staff necessary to restart the elective procedures …”.

 

And this same story spotlights how some hospitals are seeing a faster path to resuming operations and elective procedures.  “Now we’re on the other side of this and we have begun to re-engage people … the number of surgeries they are doing … has already started to rebound.”

 

The key to re-opening hospitals across the nation?  As the quote mentions:  re-engage people.  Hospital executives focused on executing their operating plan should embrace an accelerated patient engagement plan.  A structured outreach will include a variety of communications to connect with people who may have contemplated an elective procedure to encourage patients to move forward.  Yet, hospitals now face that necessary but challenging task with fewer personnel given reallocation and furloughs resulting from the challenges of the pandemic.  Physician and nursing resources that have survived the economic downturn will now be appropriately focused on in-patient care, with little-to-no time allocated to patient outreach.

 

That’s where PREMEDEX can help.  Our team of clinical and non-clinical professionals connect with thousands of patients every day to identify immediate needs while also monitoring overall patient well-being.  Equally important, PREMEDEX works every day to ensure alignment with the business needs of healthcare clients to maximize opportunities for growing revenue and improving patient satisfaction.

 

We understand these challenges and are ready to help you move forward.  It starts with talking to your patients.  Contact PREMEDEX today to learn how our solutions should be part of your path forward.