We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Surgical, Economic, and Psychological Impacts of SARS-COV-2 on a Kansas Community Hospital System.
- Authors
Hamilton Jr., James J.; Hamilton, James J
- Abstract
The chief of surgery of a 264-bed acute care facility and clinic system in Topeka, KS, USA, gives a chronology that illustrates the rapid and profound clinical, economic, and emotional impact of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on his hospital and community. In his view, the pandemic has laid bare the weaknesses of several factors basic to the modern US health care system and the resulting economic crisis: just-in-time supply chain technology; foreign sourcing of masks, gowns, and critical equipment, all at critical shortages during the crisis; rural hospital closings; lack of excess capacity through maximization of utilization for efficiency; and an overreliance on high revenue elective procedures and tests. His team was tested by an emergency operation for bowel obstruction that put all the isolation protocols into action. Despite their readiness and the success of the operation and the potential for telemedicine as an alternative to in-person evaluations and outpatient visits, the forced cancellation of all elective operations have led to the loss of revenue for both hospital system and providers, furlough and termination of workers, and financial hardship and uncertainty.
- Subjects
TOPEKA (Kan.); KANSAS; HOSPITALS; SARS-CoV-2; RURAL hospitals; HOSPITAL closures; MEDICAL care; TELERADIOLOGY
- Publication
American Surgeon, 2020, Vol 86, Issue 6, p599
- ISSN
0003-1348
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1177/0003134820924394