TRENDS
Don’t Delay As if combating a pandemic was not enough, healthcare providers were urging patients not to delay important medical procedures.
In early spring, as COVID cases rose and states shut down, many hospitals, if
perhaps a gallbladder removed – things
not all in Georgia, stopped doing elective procedures, said Anna Adams, vice president
that are truly causing discomfort.”
of government relations at the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA).
For almost two months, those patients had to play the waiting game until hospitals were able to start their procedures
Or, at least, that’s the term used for
16
know that elective is really the best way
back up with new rules in place.
the procedures. Patients who had those
to describe these types of procedures,
procedures scheduled would probably
because it doesn’t really feel that way for
pitals started to open back up and allow
phrase it differently, she said. “I don’t
patients who needed hernia repairs, or
these elective procedures again, there was
“For some patients, as soon as hos-
October 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
