Healthcare Design - August 2020 - 11

EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Hank Adams

THE COST OF
C O R O N AV I R U S

The design industry must consider the damaging
undercurrents of the COVID-19 pandemic By
Jennifer Kovacs Silvis

Wayne Barger
Carolyn BaRoss
Sam Burnette

HDR

SMITHGROUP

PERKINS AND WILL

EARL SWENSSON ASSOCIATES

Sheila F. Cahnman
JUMPGARDEN CONSULTING LLC

Thomas W. Chessum

CO ARCHITECTS

James Crispino
GENSLER

Christine Hester Devens
WHAT MANY had hoped would be a summer of waning
COVID-19 infections before a possible second wave
in the fall has, at press time, been replaced by a more
dire outlook, as cases surge in the South and West
and hospitals there now begin to feel stress on capacity. The situation is even further compounded,
though, as damage caused by the disease expands
well beyond even these new, startling numbers.
As outbreaks began in spring, an immediate response by healthcare organizations was to shut
down nonelective surgeries and procedures, all
while patients simultaneously postponed seeking care in response to both
stay-at-home orders and simple fear of exposure. This precipitous drop in
revenue would be a challenge on its own for any hospital; however, it's been
met by an increase in costs, as systems respond to the crisis with numerous
surge responses and investments-be they equipment and PPE, negativepressure room conversions, or the fit-out of alternate care sites.
In the May report "Hospitals and Health Systems Face Unprecedented Financial Pressures Due to COVID-19," the American Hospital Association attempted to quantify the effects of this reality across the four-month period of
March 1 to June 30, ultimately determining a financial impact of $202.6 billion
on U.S. hospitals and health systems, or an average of $50.7 billion per month.
As the healthcare design industry looks ahead and collectively tries to figure out how best to support healthcare organizations amid coronavirus,
solutions must be twofold. To begin, it will be critical to maintain normal
operations, even during a surge. Some initial ideas are focused on careful
screening and intake procedures, particularly in emergency departments, to
manage infection risk and scale up to dedicating one site in a hospital system
solely to non-COVID treatments and procedures.
But the cost of patients not seeking care runs deep, as well. We must create environments that make patients feel safe, so no symptom is ignored or
treatment delayed. From thinking through social distancing to integrating
touchless technology to leveraging telehealth, this industry can play a role in
reducing the health impacts that extend beyond the coronavirus itself.
It's a tall order. And we're working hard to bring you the knowledge and
resources you need to navigate what lies ahead-including right here in this
issue. Be sure to check out "Acute Condition" by Executive Editor Anne DiNardo (page 26) for insight on hospital design moving forward, as well as "Resetting the Stage" (page 37) for guidance on the reopening of outpatient care.
We also want to know what else you need, as we look to the future and respond
to current challenges. Email me anytime with your ideas and feedback. 

Mary Frazier

AECOM

EWINGCOLE

Jocelyn Lum Frederick
HC TANGRAM DESIGN

Catherine L. Gow

FRANCIS CAUFFMAN

Natalie Miovski Hagerty
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA

Erik Hanson

STANTEC ARCHITECTURE

Suzen L. Heeley
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER

Scott Holmes
Walter Jones
Randy Keiser

BWBR

METROHEALTH SYSTEM

TURNER CONSTRUCTION CO.

Julie Kent

TRINITY HEALTH

Bryan Langlands
Tiana Lemons
Michael Lied

GBBN ARCHITECTS

Mike McKay
Victoria Navarro

NBBJ

ORCUTT/WINSLOW

UW HEALTH

ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH

Kurt Neubek
Don Orndoff

KAISER PERMANENTE

Diane R.K. Osan
Chris Powers

PAGE

CANNONDESIGN

BURNS & MCDONNELL

William D. Repichowskyj
E4H ARCHITECTURE

Kim Shinn
TLC ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

Janet H. Sisolak
UT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER

Karl R. Sonnenberg
ZIMMER GUNSUL FRASCA ARCHITECTS LLP

Kurt Spiering
Steve Stokes

HGA

GRESHAM SMITH

Jeffrey C. Stouffer

HKS INC.

Paul E. Strohm
Jocelyn Stroupe

CANNONDESIGN

Melanie Taylor
Joshua A. Theodore
Anthony Treu

HOK

BOLDT
LEO A DALY

SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL

Travis Tyson
Gary L. Vance

CLEVELAND CLINIC
VANCE CONSULTING

AUGUST 2020

Healthcare Design - August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - August 2020