COVID-19: Cedars-Sinai Impact, Outcomes for Hospitalized Patients

As the U.S. enters its 15th month of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cedars-Sinai is sharing key data points that highlight the impact at its hospitals and the outcomes for patients from March 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021.

Hospitals across the country have faced dual pressures during the pandemic—responding to surges of seriously ill COVID-19 patients while simultaneously caring for many members of the community with cancer, heart disease and other urgent medical needs.

Staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital have provided complex care to more than 3,500 severely ill COVID-19 patients, enrolling many in clinical trials for experimental therapies. Staff have shifted into new roles as one surge after another brought unexpected challenges that led to innovations in ICU care. All the while, the hospitals treated more than 43,000 inpatients who needed care unrelated to COVID-19.

The collective efforts have enabled the hospitals to deliver strong results while maintaining capacity to care for those with pressing healthcare challenges.

"Through the relentless efforts of our physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, environmental services workers and administrative staff, Cedars-Sinai has continued to provide the highest-quality care during an unprecedented and often frightening time," said Jeffrey A. Smith, MD, JD, MMM, executive vice president of Hospital Operations and chief operating officer of Cedars-Sinai.

Strong Results for Patients

Cedars-Sinai began tracking COVID-19 numbers in March 2020 as the pandemic erupted. Since that time, 84% of COVID-19 patients admitted to the medical center and 91% admitted to Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital have been discharged to continue their recuperation. By comparison, an estimated 80% of COVID-19 patients in the U.S. have been discharged after hospitalization, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

"We achieved our outcomes thanks in part to our outstanding medical staff, who have extensive experience treating complex cases and worked to quickly identify treatments that were helping our colleagues in hotspots around the world," said Richard V. Riggs, MD, senior vice president of Medical Affairs and chief medical officer of Cedars-Sinai.

In Marina del Rey, Cedars-Sinai's smaller community hospital shifted staff and resources to accommodate more than 500 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 13% of all admitted patients since March 2020.

"I am in awe of the incredible strength, courage and commitment that our staff have demonstrated during the pandemic," said Joanne Laguna-Kennedy, MSN, RN, vice president of Hospital Operations and chief nursing officer of Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. "Not only have they been dedicated to our patients but to each other as well. They have carried each other during this time."

Treating More Than COVID-19

Cedars-Sinai also worked to avoid a second public health crisis by safely providing care to those in the community who needed it.

Since March 2020, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has treated more than 40,000 non-COVID-19 patients, which accounted for almost 93% of all inpatients. This occurred even as the medical center paused many surgeries during spring and winter last year in anticipation of COVID-19 patient surges.

Staff kept all those patients safe by observing a number of precautions such as wearing masks, physical distancing and limiting visitors. Testing also played a key role in safety. From March 1, 2020, to April 1, 2021, the medical center administered more than 37,000 pre-procedure tests and more than 35,000 tests for all patients admitted through the emergency department.

"Cedars-Sinai has always strived to be a blessing to the community," Smith said. "Our staff have truly embodied that spirit during the pandemic."