The report aggregated data for the second quarter and third quarter of 2021 — before the rise of the omicron variant — with a quiet summer and then an uptick in cases at the end of August.
Here are eight stats from the report that offer a picture of COVID-19’s effect on nonprofit hospitals in the second and third quarters of 2021:
1. Net patient revenue decreased by 2.5 percent from 2019 to 2020, but reached 13 percent above pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2021.
2. Total operating expenses rose by 5 percent from 2019 to 2020. In the third quarter of 2021, it was 14 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
3. Operating income fell by 14 percent from 2019 to 2020 and returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
4. Discharges were down by 9 percent from 2019 to 2020 and were 4 percent below pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2021.
5. Patient days fell by 5 percent from 2019 to 2020, but reached 5 percent above pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2021.
6. Length of stay rose by 6 percent from 2019 to 2020. In the third quarter of 2021, it was more than half a day longer than before the pandemic.
7. Surgeries declined by 12 percent from 2019 to 2020 and were 5 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2021.
8. Emergency room visits decreased by 18 percent from 2019 to 2020. They stayed 3 percent below pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2021.
Read more here.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.