The Jigsaw Puzzle of Surgical Scheduling
In a conversation with a cardiovascular surgeon recently, I asked him what his greatest fear was as his hospital began to open up ORs for elective surgeries. I was expecting to hear about COVID screening or the need for more PPE. His greatest fear? That the surgical scheduler would take vacation or get ill over […]
The Fear of Seeking Care
In our last blog, I raised the issue of having a thorough communication plan for patients, as those waiting for elective surgeries flounder in the void of information. Many states have lifted restrictions and are now allowing elective procedures to begin. Yet, another unanticipated consequence of COVID-19 is the fear some patients now have of […]
Leading Patients Through the Void
One member of our team’s mom, call her “Kate” (not her real name), broke her foot back in February; a break that would require surgery to repair. Kate is over 70 and her inability to put weight on that foot has seriously hindered her quality of life. Simple things like taking her puppy for a […]
Excessive Workloads on Surgical Staff – Preventing Burnout in Healthcare with Planning
When the US Surgeon General issued an advisory to cancel elective surgeries back in early March after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, hospitals everywhere began the necessary preparations to contain, treat and eventually flatten the curve of this dreadful disease. Surgical staff were quickly deployed in other areas of the hospital […]
The Financial Urgency By-product of COVID-19
As we approach the end of April, the emergence of daily COVID-19 cases across North America seems to be declining. Several geographies are planning to begin the process of opening up businesses and steadily lifting social distancing rules. People are clamoring to not just get out of the house and see friends and family, but […]
The Burden of Prioritization Decisions
Resuming elective surgery is on the horizon for many facilities and while this is the beginning of being able to provide much needed care for so many, it brings with it an added burden on healthcare providers. According to the authors of a recent article in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, there […]