Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Services in China

Recently, the collaborative research project between Normin Health and Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, titled "Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Service Utilization and Optimal Pandemic Control Strategies for Tertiary Hospitals in China during the Omicron Wave," was successfully published in the SCI journal BMC Health Services Research. Sponsored and supported by the China Medical Board (CMB), the study aimed to analyze changes in service utilization and revenue across three different levels of tertiary hospitals (provincial, municipal, and county-level) during three phases: pre-pandemic (January to April 2019), pandemic outbreak (January to April 2020), and post-pandemic (January to April 2021). The goal was to provide a scientific basis for developing more effective control strategies during pandemic peaks.

Key Highlights of the Study:

• Timeline Analysis: The study examined retrospective data from three stages: pre-pandemic, pandemic outbreak, and post-pandemic recovery.

• Major Findings:

  1. Impact on Healthcare Services: During the pandemic, significant declines were observed in outpatient visits, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and ICU admissions, with provincial hospitals being the most affected. Although most services recovered post-pandemic, emergency visits at county hospitals remained 46.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels.

  2. Economic Impact: Total hospital revenue and expenditures declined, with the sharpest revenue drops seen in provincial hospitals.

  3. Effectiveness of OPCS Strategy: Compared to stringent lockdown measures, the proposed Optimal Pandemic Control Strategy (OPCS) significantly improved service utilization and hospital revenue. Specifically, outpatient visits increased by 31.6 times, hospital stays grew by 1.7 times, and surgical volume rose by 3.4 times.

• Policy Recommendations: Implementing the OPCS strategy, which focuses on isolating infected inpatients while maintaining operational hospital facilities, effectively optimizes service utilization and mitigates revenue losses. This approach provides a new framework for addressing potential future pandemic challenges.

Clinical and Policy Implications:

This study offers scientific insights into resource optimization and management for tertiary hospitals during pandemics. The OPCS strategy demonstrates that hospitals can better balance infection control and service demand during outbreaks by adjusting their control measures appropriately.

Click here to view the full article for more details and conclusions.