Operational and Financial Impact of COVID-19: A Survey of Plastic Surgeons in Miami

Abstract

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidelines were issued cautioning against performing elective procedures. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operational and financial aspects of plastic surgery in Miami. Methods: A multiple-choice and short-answer survey regarding practice changes and financial impact was sent to all 67 members of the Miami Society of Plastic Surgeons. Results: A 41.8% (n = 28) response rate was obtained, five responses did not meet the inclusion criteria, and statistical analysis was performed on 34.3% (n = 23) of responses. Of the plastic surgeons who responded, 21.74% operate in an academic setting, 60.87% are in a single practitioner private practice, and 17.39% are in a multi-practitioner private practice. An estimated 60% of academic plastic surgeons had 75% or more of their previously scheduled cases canceled, compared with 57.14% in single practitioner private practice and 100% in multi-practitioner private practice. In total, 64.29% of single practitioner private practices and 50% of multi-practitioner private practices have had to obtain a small business loan. Single practitioner private practice plastic surgeons reported having an average of 6.5 months until having to file for bankruptcy or permanently close their practices, and multi-practitioner private practice plastic surgeons reported an average of 6 months. Conclusions: Guidelines to support small business must be implemented in order to allow private practice surgeons to recover from the substantial economic impact caused by the pandemic because it is necessary to reestablish patient access and provide proper care to our patients.

Plastic Surgeons and their Financial Relationships with the Industry in the era of COVID: Insights from the Physician Payments Sunshine Act

“…As a result, unsurprisingly, plastic surgeons across the board have seen fewer patients and performed fewer surgeries in the months immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic [3]. This substantial drop in patient access coupled with continued financial overhead carried by many practicing plastic surgeons has had a significant impact on the financial stability of plastic surgery practices [4] Several policies have been enacted to help prevent collapse of the healthcare system, including several physician-specific grants and loans developed to keep small businesses afloat as they continue to navigate through economic hardships [3]. While the operational and financial impacts of COVID-19 on the healthcare system are evident, the impact of the pandemic on physician relationships with industry and their subsequent financial implications has not been assessed.…”

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on the Patterns and Characteristics of Plastic Surgery Practice: A Retrospective Comparative Study of Before and During the Pandemic

“…Since the beginning of the pandemic, several studies reporting the impact of COVID-19 on plastic surgery have been published. These studies all showed a significant decline in the number of surgeries in both academic and private practice and, to a greater extent, in private practice [5][6][7][8]. As the number of cases began to decline, restrictions on elective surgeries began to decrease.…”