How Will the Pandemic Change Healthcare Delivery?

The coronavirus pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on the American healthcare system. Over the past few months, hospitals faced a shortage of testing materials for patients and personal protective equipment (PPE) for providers, strategized how to turn convention centers and other underutilized buildings into makeshift hospitals, and turned to retired medical professionals and medical students to expand their workforce – all while encouraging the public to comply with strict behaviors in an attempt to "flatten the curve."

It also caused healthcare systems to rethink how to deliver care to patients not infected with the coronavirus. Long-held regulations around telemedicine services, professional licensing, and restrictions on healthcare workers relaxed. Despite these efforts, hospitals still lost millions of dollars in revenue as elective surgeries were canceled and patients, fearing they might contract the virus, skipped in-person treatments and routine screenings and appointments. This is a trend that is likely to continue – according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, as many as 27 million Americans have lost employer-sponsored health insurance due to job loss during the crisis.

What does all of this mean for the future of the healthcare delivery? Join us as we talk with the leaders of two local healthcare systems on how they are grappling with these changes and preparing for the future.

The livestream begins at 12:30 p.m. Have a question? Tweet it to @TheCityClub or send a text to 330.541.5794.

Production and distribution of City Club forums in partnership with ideastream is generously provided by PNC, Chautauqua Institution, and the United Black Fund.