Survey shows COVID-19 impact on transplant programs and surgeons, including salary cuts
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A survey administered to members of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons provides insight into how COVID-19 has affected transplant programs across the United States and how these impacts relate to surgeons and staff.
“The survey ran from November to December 2020,” Jason R. Wellen, MD, MBA, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a presentation at the virtual ASTS Winter Symposium. “We looked at how COVID-19 affected transplant programs, how these changes will be continued within programs, as well as the effect on salary and transplant volume. We received over 130 respondents.”
Wellen noted nearly every region within the United States was represented by the respondents and almost every program transplanted kidneys (90% to 100%).
Results showed more than 50% of centers put living donor transplant programs on hold, with nearly 20% also putting high-risk transplants on hold; less than 10% stopped all transplants. Wellen said the transplant division was usually in charge of making the decision to halt the programs, though it was also often a collective decision between the transplant program and the administration.
Regarding volume, responses indicated that although more than 60% of programs were able to “recoup” their delayed living donor volume, 25% of programs were not able to do this.
The survey also addressed the utilization of telehealth, with results showing more than 70% of programs plan to continue to use some form of telehealth after the pandemic. Although centers reported 0% to 25% of patient appointments are expected to be done through telehealth, almost 30% reported that between 26% and 50% of business will be conducted via telehealth.
When considering how the pandemic has impacted the workforce, Wellen and colleagues found slightly more than 50% of all programs still have coordinators working remotely and more than 20% have some variant of remote-working (eg, selective basis or alternating program).
Salary and wages were also impacted, with 60% of respondents reporting a decrease in compensation during COVID-19 (most reported 10% of their overall income was held back, but approximately 50% said this initial reduction has now been reversed).
More than 50% of transplant centers reported a hold on new hiring.
“The majority of participants said that COVID-19 testing speed or availability has not only slowed down operations, but has also increased costs,” Wellen said. “Over 90% stated they are currently or about to undergo another surge. Unlike during the first surge, over half of respondents stated they will make no major changes this time around. Despite there being a second surge at the time of this survey, it does not seem to be affecting as many programs as the first surge did.”
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Wellen JR. COVID-19 effects on transplant centers. Presented at: ASTS Winter Symposium. Jan. 14-16, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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