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US hospitals warn of shortages, closures |
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Newbie1A
Adviser Group Joined: January 26 2018 Location: Alberta Status: Offline Points: 11180 |
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Posted: March 21 2020 at 9:13pm |
U.S. hospitals are warning that they are so strapped for cash that without some financial relief, they will be unable to meet their payrolls in a matter of weeks and some could be forced to close just as coronavirus cases are surging. Subscribe to the Post’s Today's Headlines newsletter The American Hospital Association and three hospital chief executives spanning the country said in a conference call Saturday that a federal directive this week urging the cancellation of elective procedures — to conserve scarce resources for patients with covid19 — is halting the type of services that produce the most revenue. And their ability to buy critically needed supplies — from protective gear to more hospital beds — is being stymied by the fact that private vendors are requiring hospitals to pay cash upon delivery, which they say they lack the money to do. This stark portrait of the ground-level reality for hospitals, in communities where the pandemic has penetrated and those where it has not yet seriously struck, comes as hospitals and other cornerstones of the U.S. health-care system are pleading with Congress to provide large-scale financial relief. The American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association are jointly urging Congress to provide hospitals and health systems $100 billion in emergency aid. The Federation of American Hospitals, the trade group for for-profit hospitals, issued a call Friday night for at least $225 billion in aid. On Saturday’s conference call, J. Scott Graham, the chief executive of Three Rivers Hospital in rural Washington State communities where the pandemic has not yet surged, said the cancellation of elective procedures means that “there are no patients coming. … As a result, all of the revenue that typically comes in to cover the cost of operating has dried up.” Graham said that the hospital projects it will be able to meet its payroll for the next three or four weeks. But he said it has stopped paying its vendors and has been urging its local bank to extend its credit limit — unsuccessfully so far. “If we don’t get some assistance in the next two weeks, we will have to start having conversations with doctors and nurses and our community” about the need to close, he said. “We are concerned we will not be able to be around, because of the financial hit we are taking, by the time the surge hits us.” A hospital executive in a very different environment, LaRay Brown of One Brooklyn Health System, which serves mainly low-income patients in that New York City borough, said, “we have less than two weeks cash on hand.” That system of three hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers anticipates extra costs of more than $30 million per month, she said. It is racing to set up tents for testing and screening, has hired additional staff as others are isolated or home caring for children, and needs somehow to fulfill a new order by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) to increase hospital bed capacity by 50 percent. “We literally need to buy the beds,” Brown said. But with vendors insisting on being paid at the time they are delivered, she said, “we can’t buy the equipment … if we don’t have the immediate cash.” |
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If it's to be - it's up to me!
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carbon20
Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816 |
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The True cost of the American health system........ I cannot understand Why you Americans have a huge problem with a Taxpayer funded system..... Yours is Just about to fall apart..... Terrible that you can't seem to LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN !!!!!!!! |
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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖
Marcus Aurelius |
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EdwinSm,
Moderator Joined: April 03 2013 Status: Offline Points: 24065 |
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If the system does not work in a crisis then one should consider changing the system. |
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carbon20
Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816 |
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"we dont want any commies here" Dumb and dumber...... |
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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖
Marcus Aurelius |
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kaye kaye
V.I.P. Member Joined: February 27 2020 Location: ohio Status: Offline Points: 3290 |
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A shortage of beds during periods of peak demand, like the flu season, is a longstanding problem in the publicly funded system. While health spending has risen gradually in recent years, beds have not kept pace with population growth. “You’ve got people in broom closets and auditoriums and conference rooms across the country,” said Michael Gardam, chief of staff at one Ontario’s newest hospitals, the 656-bed Humber River Hospital. Canada has 925 cases of the COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, and 12 deaths. |
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keep the joy
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Little House
V.I.P. Member Joined: February 13 2020 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1910 |
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I think that many of you who do not live in America miss some of the subtle exchanges among different parts of our society. You see, the US government has been handing out money like candy at Halloween. This article is not saying that hospitals will close, this article is the hospital system knocking on the government’s door and saying “trick or treat.” (I am not sure if Halloween is a common holiday among English speaking countries. In the US, on October 31, children go from door to door in their neighborhoods and knock on their neighbor’s doors. They say “trick or treat” and are rewarded with candy.) |
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AI
Adviser Group Joined: January 21 2020 Status: Offline Points: 8850 |
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ME163
Admin Group Joined: September 16 2006 Status: Offline Points: 4552 |
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I can testify to the shortages. We currently have one ventilator for a seven county area in north central Kansas. It will be snatched up and taken to Wichita or Kansas City. The hospital closures are real , Our of 64 community hospitals in Western Kansas, 61 are in danger of closure in 2 years. 34 of those are In danger are at risk of closure as soon as 2021. Good luck if you traveling on Interstate 70 between Hays and Denver, if you need a emergency room, it may be a 45 mile trip to Colby or Hays. Almost every small county hospital is at risk of closing along I -70 . |
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carbon20
Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816 |
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Why is a tax payer heath system in the USA ,thought so badley of, Australia is not at all "Left" leaning our present Government is A Liberal which is like your Republicans They won in a landslide last year against a Labor opposition which are like your Democrats, Australians look after their own, that's what a good health system does. If you have Private health cover paid for by you, you get a tax break on payments, We don't get a tax break on our mortgage interest payments ,I believe you do, If I go to Doctors I pay $40,I get $25 back from Medicare. Hospitals A&E is free, IE sliced my hand open on a can of dog food, 10 stitches no charge.... I just wonder why Americans are against looking after their own citizens. Again your county your rules.... I just ask the Question Never heard a good answer yet. Anyway, As I said In my "last post" Not a time to argue Now, we all.have to pull together, Take care All 🤝🖖 |
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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖
Marcus Aurelius |
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carbon20
Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816 |
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Here if you don't give candy or treats on Halloweenyou get your hose EGGED. IE,they throw eggs at your house....well some do..... "Aussie larakins" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin |
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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖
Marcus Aurelius |
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