CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A national observance to celebrate healthcare across the country takes on special meaning in 2021 here in West Virginia.
National Hospital Week is underway and Jim Kaufman, CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association said it’s an opportunity to thank a lot of people who have endured a very difficult situation for more than a year.
“They’ve really sacrificed even more than usual in thinking about how to continue to care for neighbors, realizing they were potentially exposed to Covid, and then how to protect our own families,” said Kaufman of the thousands of West Virginians employed by hospitals across the state.
The pandemic has created multiple struggles. Despite treating large numbers of Covid patients and setting up testing and vaccination clinics in their parking lot and other remote locations throughout their community many hospitals were forced to furlough employees at the height of the situation in the past year. Despite financial losses they were still expected to deliver the top notched healthcare standard for the community.
“Hospitals are struggling financially even though we are bursting at the seams with Covid patients. We still struggle with a payer mix which is predominantly governmental payers. 75 percent of our patients are on Medicare, Medicaid, or PEIA and all of them reimburse below the cost of care which is a financial struggle for hospitals and one of the things they are still struggling with,” he said.
Despite providing strong healthcare a hospital is often a pillar of the community and at the center of much of the cultural and community activity. They are also economic engines for many small town communities in West Virginia and typically serve as the top local private employer.
“This is really a great opportunity to say, ‘Thank-you.’ for all they have done,” he added.