UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann said that most procedures at Surgical Care Affiliates ASCs have been postponed during the company's first quarter earnings call.
OptumCare, SCA's parent company, reported a reduction in elective care that is affecting its business, although patients can still reach their established providers via telemedicine for non-surgical care. The company is also using the "internet of things" to care for people in their homes with artificial intelligence-enabled symptom checkers as one facet of their digital health strategy.
"When you look at OptumHealth, one of the remarkable things is what a resilient and diversified healthcare business it is," said OptumHealth CEO Wyatt Decker, as transcribed by Seeking Alpha. "We're in 43 states. We have ambulatory care surgical centers, we have primary care, we have specialty care and because the COVID epidemic and pandemic is playing out differently across the United States, we feel we're really well positioned and have been able to keep our workforce busy, contributing to the communities they serve, while we adapt to this changing environment."
Mr. Wichmann said the company is also prepared for returning operations for its facilities once the pandemic subsides and take on the demand for elective surgical care.
"Our ambulatory surgical care centers will be available immediately to respond to the demands, the pent up demands that will exist for joint replacements and the number of other things that they do so well," he said, adding that the company is also adjusting and evolving its business strategy to respond to future crises.