While much of the focus has been on "flattening the curve" when it comes to COVID-19, experts warn hospitals should be prepared for another potential surge: pent-up demand for deferred care.
"We've had an increase in procedures that are being postponed and eventually those procedures will come back," said Tinglong Dai, Ph.D., associate professor of operations management and business analytics at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
While several health systems across the country have begun resuming procedures at some level, many reported their volumes are still extremely light.
But demand could potentially spike in the coming months as patients find they can no longer put off care. Dai is part of a team that is launching a study into the impact of delays in care among dermatology cancer patients at Johns Hopkins. They are also examining how health systems should respond. Read More...