Looking back at 2021: Another wild, challenging ride for ASCs
By Randy Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer, Surgical Notes
For the past few years, I've written a column that looks back on the previous year and highlights the challenges that faced ASCs and positive developments for the industry. I conclude the column by listing questions I believe may be answered during the upcoming year. For last year's column, the first topic covered and question asked concerned the biggest news of 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic was one of several significant challenges for ASCs last year, many of which continue today. But there was also good news for ASCs. I remain as optimistic as ever about the future of the industry and our ability to be resilient in the face of substantial obstacles and disruption.
Below are my thoughts on the year that was.
The variants
2020 was the year of COVID broadly. 2021 was the year of two of its variants:
delta and omicron. Just as the country seemed to be entering the final
stages of the pandemic, delta hit. Then came omicron, which accounted
for most cases by Christmas. As I write this, it appears that omicron
cases have peaked overall for the country.
