COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended health care in America. The 31 multi-specialty medical groups that are part of the CAPP are at the forefront of the battle for their patients’ lives.

Stephen Parodi, MD, chair of the CAPP, and national infectious disease leader for Kaiser Permanente, commented in FierceHealthcare on Kaiser Permanente’s multipronged COVID-19 suppression strategy.

Harvard researchers found that, early in the pandemic, visits to ambulatory care practices declined 60%. Recently, the same sources indicate visits have rebounded but remain below pre-pandemic rates.

The relaxation of federal rules around telehealth have made it possible for medical groups and health systems to bring vitally needed medical attention to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sharp Rees-Stealy swung into action during the pandemic, ensuring those who might be infected with COVID-19 could be seen and treated safely, and providing a safe environment for routine patient care.

Michigan’s Henry Ford Health System has successfully deployed virtual health during the COVID-19 crisis, providing a model for other organizations to maximize their telehealth/telemedicine programs.

In March 2020, as epidemiologists were predicting surging cases of COVID-19 illness, a host of regulatory barriers were removed to enable the delivery of care outside acute care hospital settings.

COVID-19 has not only required massive mobilization to reorganize care delivery and take extreme infection control precautions; it has also severely disrupted the financing of medical care.

Disaster preparedness has become an integral part of health systems operations. The infrastructure organized health systems have put in place are serving them well during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical distancing is our primary weapon against COVID-19. Seattle’s early experience, and generosity of its public and private institutions to share learnings, is guiding strategies nationwide.