JACKSON, Wyo. — A pause on elective procedures is costing St. John’s Health about $6 million per month, CEO Paul Beaupré said at a community update today.
St. John’s suspended elective procedures last month in response to a White House directive. If the hospital cannot get back on track in the next eight-nine months, “St. John’s will be fiscally  insolvent,” Beaupré said.
“We’re doing very thoughtful planning about how we’re going to turn the hospital back on,” he said.
The road to recovery will not happen without more widespread access to rapid-response PCR testing. Knowing exactly who is sick and who they have been in contact with is essential to economic recovery across all sectors, healthcare included.
“[Wyoming delegates] are all aware that the future of rural hospitals will depend upon their ability to gradually reopen elective procedures. And to do that, we have to be able to rapidly test,” Beaupré said.
“Ultimately, we want to see a hospital that can care for COVID patients and simultaneously care for other health needs.”
