A Pandemic – Catalyst for Change

Healthcare Industry and Workers Rise to the Challenge 

The healthcare industry and ecosystem have been hit hard by pandemic disruption. Strain on hospitals and ER capacity, along with a broken off-shore and just-in-time (JIT) supply chain caused administrators and front-line workers to scramble for supplies in the early days of the coronavirus. However, the response from corporations, government, and every day citizens chipping in to make and provide supplies, to help their communities, and to assist their neighbors were examples of everyone being in the pandemic together. 

Rapid Response 

It was previously unthinkable that citizens would need to band together to build, sew, and source Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to fill a critical medical supply gap. Manufacturers repurposed factories to produce masks, ventilators, and gowns and leveraged their fleets to deliver supplies to hospitals and healthcare workers who were at their breaking points.  

Healthcare systems responded quickly to address anticipated volumes of coronavirus patients. Hot and cold sites were established with dedicated on-site and off-site facilities with specially equipped practitioners to increase capacity and mitigate cross-contamination and virus spread. To scale operations and minimize exposure, robots were deployed to sanitize hospital rooms and corridors1 and to transport blood samples to labs.  

Many routine and elective procedures as well as appointments were postponed or shifted to digital health options. This spurred the rapid deployment of technology that had been underutilized for both patient care and as a medical staff communication method. Reassigned staff are managing new online patient experiences made more robust through digital applications like Baptist Health2 chat bot that handles online inquiries and basic COVID-19 screening questions, providing more efficient care.  

Legislators and policy makers had a role to play in the industry’s response. Increased use of digital technology and the need to expand the pool of approved health practitioners was only possible with state and federal regulators acting quickly to loosen restrictions3. Limitations on the scope of tele-health were relaxed, mandates of practitioner oversight were lifted, and geographical restrictions have largely been waived to manage through this public health crisis. 

Consumers are embracing digital health experiences. Deloitte4 found that 28 percent of consumers participated in a virtual or telehealth visit themselves or with a relative during the pandemic, nearly double the 2019 figure. Additionally, 84% of virtual health users were satisfied with the experience, indicating a promising future for digital health applications. Hopefully, the healthcare industry and regulators will adapt and allow for the continuation and expansion of these tele-health practices.  

Digitization for a Resilient Healthcare Industry 

Digital-based interactions are a foundation for a more resilient, agile, and scalable healthcare industry. Increasing reliance on digital tools will help manage cost, provide more customized services, and deliver care on patients’ terms at scale. Medical supply chain will be fortified with more domestic sourcing and a wider range of suppliers to mitigate single points of failure. Data and predictive modeling will drive forecasting and procurement on a national and global scale, helping to build a more resilient ecosystem and industry. 

As we continue to navigate our COVID world, we must remember the people behind the masks. They have put themselves in harm’s way to care for us every day.  Let’s not assume they know we are thankful for their sacrifices. Let’s ensure they see our signs of love and gratitude and hear our words of thanks and appreciation. It makes a difference.