Patient encounters, revenue and staffing dropped significantly across ambulatory practices and medical groups in the spring of 2020, prompting virtual health utilization to reach historic heights during COVID-19, according to this analysis by Premier.

The analysis, which reviewed data from more than 35,000 healthcare providers within 80 specialties over a 10-month period, found:

• On average, a 40-56 percent decrease in ambulatory charges during the month of April compared to the nine-month average prior to COVID-19.
• A significant drop-off in outpatient visits in specialties like ophthalmology, podiatry and otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat).
• Declines of 37 percent in clinical support staff and 32 percent in front office staff by the end of April.

Download the full data-driven analysis for key insights for ambulatory practices as you prepare for a new way of delivering healthcare.