Highlights: A generalized increase is noted across all focus utilization metrics this month compared to January 2020 baseline. Acute care admissions moved from -13% under the baseline last month to -10% in May (Fig. 1) with all except one hospital showing a slight increase in volumes as shown in Table 2 of the report. Emergency department visits and psychiatric admissions both show a slight increase in volumes this month going from -23% to -22% and -21% to -19% below baseline respectively. Observation admissions and ambulatory surgeries continue to remain over 2020 baseline as portrayed in Fig. 1 below.

Reduced variation in observation admissions has been seen over the past few months. In addition, volumes show a recovery compared to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after the emergency was declared in March 2020 as depicted in Fig. 2 below. Comparing March 2023 to March 2020 volumes there is a noted recovery even though some variation is observed as depicted in Fig. 2. Conversely, psychiatric admissions continue to fluctuate around the post-COVID median and have returned to pre-COVID volumes with the biggest drop observed from March to April 2020 following the emergency declaration as shown in Fig. 3 below.

o Washington Business Journal introduced this year’s class of 25 Women Who Mean Business honorees, and our very own fearless leader Jacqueline D. Bowens was selected as an honoree. Now in its 21st year, this annual celebration of the region’s top female executives is one of our most prestigious awards and receives hundreds of nominations. This year’s class includes some of the region’s top names who are leading people, places, dollars and deals and aims to reflect the diverse industries, regions and backgrounds in Greater Washington. The Washington Business Journal will celebrate this year’s class on October 30 at the Ritz-Carlton in D.C. A special section with profiles and portraits of this year’s honorees will appear in print and online on November 1. Congratulations Jackie!

Highlights: April utilization metrics show a somewhat consistent steady pattern compared to last month: observation and acute care admissions remained steady at 1% over baseline and 13% below baseline respectively from March 2024 to April 2024. Other metrics present a slight decline in volumes: emergency department visits went from -22% to -23% below baseline, and ambulatory surgeries declined from 5% to 4% above baseline. Psychiatric admissions is the only metric with a slightly more pronounced decline in volumes going from -15% below baseline in March to -21% this month as shown in Fig. 1.

Although specialty admissions depicted in Fig. 2 have consistently remained over the median in the past four months, this month they show a generalized decline in volumes bringing them slightly below the median. Involuntary admissions show a similar pattern this month with declining volumes as shown in Fig. 3.

There are more than 5,000 community hospitals in the U.S. The care they provide for patients is critical and often extends beyond the four walls of the hospital and into the community. As a result, community hospitals provide 24/7 access to needed medical care, support unmet community health needs and serve as economic pillars in their community.