Pandemic Disrupted 30% of Health Care Visits for Patients Aged 50 and Older

Approximately 1 in 3 Americans aged 50 and older canceled health appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, according to a recent study from Michigan Medicine’s National Poll on Healthy Aging.

Canceled appointments included those for both medical and dental reasons, such as blood tests or teeth cleanings. As of January 2022, most Americans aged 50 and older had rescheduled their canceled health visits.

However, an alarming number of Americans from this demographic have not yet rescheduled appointments or do not intend to at all:

·         Approximately 37% for dental procedures

·         Approximately 26% for health tests and procedures

·         Approximately 22% for doctor visits

While COVID-19 understandably kept many people out of doctors’ offices initially, the continued postponement of care suggests the pandemic will continue to influence health care decisions in 2022.

In fact, the pandemic already seems to be playing a significant role as individuals choose not to reschedule health appointments. According to the National Poll report, rescheduling was much more likely among vaccinated individuals.

What’s Next?

Delayed health care appointments can lead to serious consequences later in life. Even simple or routine procedures, such as teeth cleaning, can reveal health issues that may otherwise go unnoticed until they worsen. And, ultimately, worsened health conditions can become chronic and extremely costly to manage.

While the National Poll report is specific to Americans aged 50 and older, its findings touch on a universal issue: It can be easy to postpone health care appointments and forget to reschedule them.

That’s why employers should continue to encourage employees to seek preventive health care and keep their appointments. Doing so can help individuals maintain quality health for years to come.

The Impact of Supply Chain Issues and Rising Inflation on Employers

The COVID-19 pandemic tipped off supply chain issues that may take years to reconcile. Due to virus disruptions, global systems that seemed fine for years quickly proved untenable as operations deteriorated. Now, employers are left wondering how they might be able to stay afloat amid unprecedented market uncertainty.

This article outlines key factors contributing to the current crisis and explores how they may affect employers.

Market Overview

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, business leaders assumed the economy was coming to a halt. As such, manufacturing workers were laid off, and orders were greatly reduced. Many businesses followed suit—computer chip companies lowered output, and shipping organizations reduced service.

While this seemed worthwhile initially, these moves ultimately proved miscalculated and helped contribute to the current market situation. In fact, according to Bloomberg News, spending by consumers in major cities was up more than 15% in December 2021 compared to two years prior. This is because, despite economic withdrawals in the service sector, industries such as technology and home leisure surged during the pandemic. In other words, instead of going out, Americans were staying in and spending money on things they could use at home.

Supply Chain Design Flaws

A major factor contributing to today’s market issues is how supply chain and warehousing models are currently set up. In recent years, due to global connectivity, the world has heavily relied on “just-in-time” (JIT) supply models. These models focus on receiving orders precisely when needed to reduce storage costs for inventory and help increase product turnover.

However, when the JIT model’s precision is disrupted anywhere, the entire system slows down, putting it at risk. During the pandemic, this occurred on a massive scale across virtually every industry.

With challenges creating and shipping goods lingering on today, there is currently more demand than supply. In turn, inflation is soaring and prices are rising at the fastest pace since 1982, according to the New York Times.

Workplace Impact

Employers are concerned about the current market situation. Supply chain disruptions and rising costs rarely lead to beneficial outcomes for anyone. Employers are seeing the confluence of these factors within their own workplaces, with top issues including:

·         Difficulties attracting and retaining workers

·         Struggles with offering competitive compensation amid high inflation

·         Employees’ financial uncertainty

·         Decrease in employee well-being

Employers must now figure out the best way to meet these challenges with creative and meaningful solutions.

Potential Solutions

Only time will tell how the market will endure disrupted supply chains and soaring prices. Many experts believe supply chain issues could potentially linger for several years, contributing to more inflation.

That’s why it’s critical for employers to consider ways to overcome these challenges and stay flexible amid this uncertainty. Below are some solutions some workplaces are exploring:

·         Greater focus on worker well-being—As an increased number of employees are reporting feelings of burnout and financial uncertainty, employers are seeking solutions through voluntary benefits and other methods.  

·         More competitive employment perks—Compensation remains a top employee motivator, and, due to record inflation, some employers are increasing wages and benefits to stay competitive and aid retention.

·         Improved employee flexibility—Workplace flexibility, such as remote working opportunities or flex scheduling, has emerged as a must-have perk for many employees.

While there’s no one clear solution to the issues workplaces face, there are still ways employers can navigate today’s workplace challenges. They will need to think strategically about their most immediate pain points and how to maximize resources.

Conclusion

Overcoming the challenges presented by supply chain issues and rising price inflation will take a concerted effort by employers. These problems may crop up in unique and unforeseen ways, such as diminished employee wellness. That’s why it’s important for employers to think creatively and be ready to adapt to developing situations.

Reach out to Better Business Planning, Inc. for more workplace resources that can help attract and retain employees.

 

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