Many headlines have rightly focused on the 38.6 million unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But many stories are overlooking how those unemployment numbers and the loss of healthcare jobs will affect the healthcare system.

Due to a sharp drop in patient volumes, near-total cancellation of elective surgeries, and many patients’ loss of work and the ability to pay for care, 1.4 million healthcare workers were laid off or furloughed in April alone.