Gupta R, Mouawad NJ, Yi JA. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgery: Health care systems, economic, and clinical implications.
Semin Vasc Surg 2021;
34:74-81. [PMID:
34642039 PMCID:
PMC8285216 DOI:
10.1053/j.semvascsurg.2021.06.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic is responsible for more than 500,000 deaths in the United States and nearly 3 million worldwide, profoundly altering the landscape of health care delivery. Aggressive public health measures were instituted and hospital efforts became directed at COVID-19–related concerns. Consequently, routine surgical practice was virtually halted, resulting in billions of dollars in hospital losses as pandemic costs escalated. Navigating an uncertain new landscape of scarce resource allocation, exposure risk, role redeployment, and significant practice pattern changes has been challenging. Furthermore, the overall effect on the financial viability of the health care system and vascular surgical practices is yet to be elucidated. This review explores the economic and clinical implications of COVID-19 on the practice of vascular surgery in addition to the health care system as a whole.
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