As COVID-19 cases increase, hospital leaders should consider focusing on three core functions
Modern Healthcare April 14, 2020
Hospitals and health systems around the country have implemented emergency procedures and protocols in response to—or in anticipation of—a surge in COVID-19 cases. In hotspot areas, many of these organizations are dealing with extraordinarily high call volumes, significant appointment backlogs, limited telehealth/virtual health capabilities, challenged triage systems, supply shortages, and a limited ability to quickly test patients for the virus. Meanwhile, cases not involving COVID-19 and elective cases have decreased significantly, which is disrupting the flow of revenue and creating staffing challenges.
As the pandemic continues to unfold, some hospitals and health systems are facing critical care capacity issues, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other medical equipment. There are also staff shortages in emergency rooms and critical...