Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Apr 2021
Operational Impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic and Early Recovery Trends: University of Washington Anatomic Pathology Experience.
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has resulted in worldwide disruption to the delivery of patient care. The Seattle, Washington metropolitan area was one of the first in the United States affected by the pandemic. As a result, the anatomic pathology services at the University of Washington experienced significant changes in operational volumes early in the pandemic. ⋯ A significant decrease in specimen volume was most strongly associated with bans on nonurgent procedures. Although all departmental areas had a decrease in volume, the extent of change varied across subspecialty and specimen types. Even with removal of all bans, service volume did not reach prepandemic levels.