Responding to COVID-19

MH: How can specialty hospitals help relieve some of the pressure on acute-care providers?

Basu: A first step is reaching out to acutecare hospitals and offering to transition patients needing ongoing treatment for high-risk conditions—cancer, heart conditions—or surgical care to specialty hospitals. This will free up capacity at community hospitals so they can focus on the inevitable surge in COVID-19 patients. In addition to helping alleviate disruptions in care, this could also reduce the likelihood of exposing a higher-risk patient population to COVID-19.

Some specialty hospitals may also be able to take on ICU and general surgery cases and cross-credential providers to enable doctors from community hospitals to care for patients at specialty hospitals, when necessary.

Lastly, telehealth can be utilized to ensure patients placed at specialty hospitals remain connected to their original care team.

MH: Doesn’t that present a risk to your regular patients?

Basu: The best use of our space is to care for their non-COVID cases so all important cases can be cared for in a timely fashion with the best quality and expertise. We have implemented comprehensive screening procedures at all of our hospitals and are up to date on the latest health and safety policies and procedures intended to safeguard the health and safety of all patients, staff and visitors.

We work closely with local and national health authorities to stay informed on all important developments.

These same measures are in place for patients who would arrive from neighboring hospitals. COVID-19 doesn’t wait for cancer. As an organization dedicated to those fighting cancer, we believe it is our responsibility to work with our community providers to help patients in need continue their

● critical treatments.