As the coronavirus crisis mounts, the financial strain on North Carolina’s hospitals is growing.
To meet the crisis, hospitals are making major changes in operations, facilities and staffing – changes that cost some systems tens of millions of dollars a month.
The financial-rescue bill passed by Congress last week includes $1.2 billion for North Carolina’s crisis healthcare needs, but even that will not solve the problem.
The financial strain is especially severe for rural hospitals.
Pandemic puts extra financial strain on rural North Carolina hospitals
But all hospitals – large and small, urban and rural, private and nonprofit – are affected.
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Uncertainties brought on by the coronavirus pandemic make it impossible to move forward.
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Along with higher costs, hospitals face declining revenues as they cancel non-essential surgeries to prepare for a flood of coronavirus patients.
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Here is a good overview of the current situation faced by hospitals nationally.
As the number of COVID-19 cases grow exponentially across the state, hospitals are preparing.
To get ready, hospitals are overhauling operations:
- Setting up triage tents for testing
- Reassigning staff to handle virus patients
- Converting hospital rooms to ICUs
- Making sure that doctors, nurses and staff have protective equipment.
Some hospital systems have healthy financial reserves that can absorb some of the costs. Some, especially in rural areas, do not.
We will keep you informed on the situation.
In the meantime, stay home and stay safe.
