Many Florida hospitals that reopened for non-emergency procedures are trying to convince patients to return.
Although many Florida hospitals reopened for non-emergency medical procedures on Monday, they found themselves in an unanticipated position: convincing patients to return.
After six weeks of hearing that hospitals are ground zero for the COVID-19 crisis, some South Floridians say they are too afraid of catching the virus to go to one.
Florida’s hospitals held news conferences, put out newsletters, wrote op-ed pieces — even rolled out a red carpet Monday to encourage people to schedule the surgeries or medical treatments they had postponed
“We’re trying to get the message out there that it’s safe to go to a hospital,” said Crystal Stickle, acting president of the Florida Hospital Association.
Gov. Ron DeSantis had banned hospitals from elective surgeries and non-emergency procedures on March 20 to conserve personal protective gear and hospital beds for people infected with the novel coronavirus. With that order lifted, most hospitals are easing into services, starting first with operations that don’t require an overnight stay and building over time to major surgeries that require more lengthy recoveries.
Richard White of Boynton Beach needs a hip replacement but remains too fearful to schedule the operation. “I don’t want to take a chance,” White said. “I’m willing to suffer a little longer rather than put myself in danger.”
Hospitals want — and need — to convince patients like White that a stay won’t expose them to the virus. A new report by the national consulting firm Crowe shows
Florida health systems have suffered nearly a 50% drop in patient volume in March and April. To gain trust and keep it, hospital administrators recognize they must re-open safely.
Memorial Healthcare held a news conference Monday to communicate its plan: separating coronavirus patients, banning visitors, reconfiguring waiting areas to allow for social distancing, testing everyone for the virus in a pre-admission center, and requiring every person in the hospitals to wear masks.
“We are doing everything to protect our environment,” said Dr. Stanley Marks, chief medical officer for Memorial Healthcare System. “People have medical issues and none of them go away because of a pandemic. It’s time to get back to treating the community as Memorial has always done.”
Broward Health signaled a reopening for elective surgeries by rolling out a red carpet on Monday morning to welcome back nurses, doctors and patients. Broward Health CEO Gino Santorio said his health system has taken a variety