Herbert Pardes, MD, former CEO and current vice chairman of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City wrote an op-ed in New York Daily News discussing the need for hospitals to maintain surge capacity.
Surge capacity — holding beds empty for emergencies — was critical to the success of New York City hospitals in responding to the evacuation of five hospitals during Hurricane Sandy. Dr. Pardes wrote that while some policy makers may want to eliminate surge capacity to cut costs, the service is necessary to the community.
"There are indeed many areas in health care where greater efficiency can lead to huge savings — but surge capacity is simply not one of them. Legislators in Washington should keep that in mind as they wrangle with the White House over how to make health care more efficient and less expensive," he wrote.
He added, "The overall lesson of superstorm Sandy is that our complex and compassionate health care system works during an emergency. But it won’t work if policy makers confuse emergency capacity with waste."
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Surge capacity — holding beds empty for emergencies — was critical to the success of New York City hospitals in responding to the evacuation of five hospitals during Hurricane Sandy. Dr. Pardes wrote that while some policy makers may want to eliminate surge capacity to cut costs, the service is necessary to the community.
"There are indeed many areas in health care where greater efficiency can lead to huge savings — but surge capacity is simply not one of them. Legislators in Washington should keep that in mind as they wrangle with the White House over how to make health care more efficient and less expensive," he wrote.
He added, "The overall lesson of superstorm Sandy is that our complex and compassionate health care system works during an emergency. But it won’t work if policy makers confuse emergency capacity with waste."
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