August 23, 2021 / Jeff Lagasse, Associate Editor
While regional variations in patient volumes continue at hospitals throughout the U.S., many returned to 2019 levels in June and July of this year, according to results of a new McKinsey survey.
In the survey of healthcare leaders at 100 private sector hospitals, the numbers showed that emergency department and inpatient volumes have returned to 2019 levels, though respondents said they expect it to be roughly 5 to 6% higher in 2022. 
Outpatient and procedural volumes were 3 to 4% above 2019 levels in July, and are expected to be 6 to 8% higher next year.
WHAT’S THE IMPACT?
More than a third of providers said they expected patient demand to exceed capacity in psychiatry and orthopedic surgery in the next six months, while roughly 25% said they expect the same challenge in cardiology and gastroenterology.
