HHS Inspector General Documents the Hospital Crisis During COVID-19

Last week the HHS Office of Inspector General (I.G.) issued Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23–27, 2020. The report stated, “Hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 and keeping staff safe. Hospitals also reported substantial challenges in maintaining or expanding their facilities’ capacity to treat patients with COVID-19.”

While the President attacked the report and the inspector general, the I.G. report described a range of challenges including but not limited to: Severe Shortages of Testing Supplies and Extended Waits for Results; Widespread Shortages of PPE; Difficulty Maintaining Adequate Staffing and Supporting Staff; Difficulty Maintaining and Expanding Hospital Capacity to Treat Patients; Shortages of Critical Supplies, Materials, and Logistic Support; Anticipated Shortages of Ventilators; Increased Costs and Decreased Revenue; Changing and Sometimes Inconsistent Guidance; Secure Necessary PPE, Equipment, and Supplies; and Ensuring Adequate Staffing and Support Staff. The report is based on information about hospitals’ experiences and perspectives in responding to COVID-19 at a point in time—March 23–27, 2020.

The inspector general’s offices are independent offices within different agencies in the U.S. government. The I.G.s are intended as an internal reviewer that can determine shortfalls, misconduct, and abuse of government policies and practices. Unlike the Government Accountability Office (GAO), it is not part of the congressional branch but part of the executive branch and serves as a watchdog. Mr. Trump was highly critical of the report when it was raised at one of his press conferences. The I.G. report concluded:

“This report provides information about hospitals’ experiences and perspectives in responding to COVID-19 at a point in time—March 23–27, 2020. The pandemic is fast-moving, as are the efforts to address it. Since our interviews, some hospital challenges may have worsened, and others may have improved. Hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 and keeping staff safe. Hospitals also reported substantial challenges in maintaining or expanding their facilities’ capacity to treat patients with COVID-19.”