March 26, 2020 / Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright
Healthcare leaders across the country are in pure survival mode right now. It’s hard to think beyond the next few weeks as we scramble to adapt to the new world of COVID-19 and brace for the impact on our hospitals and providers.
At the same time, though, it’s becoming clear that the effects of the pandemic are going to be felt long after this storm has passed.
At the Medical Group Management Association, we ran a quick survey of our governing affairs council to understand the main concerns of physician practices, hospitals and healthcare systems. Many of the responses wouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been following the reporting on our healthcare system’s under-preparedness for the pandemic.
The lack of personal protective equipment like masks and gowns is a huge issue—one provider shared that he had to get the necessary gear from a combination of Home Depot, his dentist and patient donations. Some smaller practices have only a handful of N95 masks and no idea where to get more.
