THE VALUED VOICE

The Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center (WHAIC) has quantified and documented the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Wisconsin’s health care system in a new report.
 
This week, The Valued Voice focuses on the reopening of non-emergent care following a shutdown ordered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the spring of 2020. As virus spread appeared to slow down and personal protective equipment (PPE) availability began to improve in the summer of 2020, hospitals and health systems began to welcome patients back, although some seemed wary of COVID and hesitant to seek care.
 
Why Hospitals Could Reopen:

• Federal government rescinded its hospital shutdown; Wisconsin did not issue its own similar restrictions
• PPE supplies improved
• Limited virus spread

Proceeding Cautiously:

• Total inpatient activity down 5% compared to 2019
• Outpatient surgeries and procedures down 1% compared to 2019
• Emergency department visits down 1% compared to 2019

Health Impact: Lingering hesitancy to seek care due to COVID stigma, but things began to improve
 
Hospital Impact: Hospitals were able to provide a full range of care again and worked to encourage patients not to put off care. Hospitals recovered some lost revenue, albeit under challenging and very cautious circumstances.