Pandemic accelerated trend toward more outpatient health care

The pandemic fueled a shift in healthcare delivery, with more patients unable or unwilling to seek care in hospital settings. Even as the pandemic ebbs, its effect on how consumers access healthcare will persist, with fewer emergency-room visits. Changes in reimbursement models, new drugs, devices and growing investment in outpatient services, including ambulatory surgery centers is driving down inpatient care numbers. Another factor includes increasing acceptance and use of telehealth, resulting in fewer non-COVID emergency-room visits.