As we near the end of a demanding and tumultuous 2020, and on behalf of all Cerner associates, I want to express appreciation for Cerner’s clients and all the front-line health care workers around the world who have sacrificed so much in the fight against COVID-19.
In a year defined by what will likely be one of the biggest health care crises of our lifetimes, tens of millions of doctors, nurses and caregivers have demonstrated courage, compassion, stamina and selflessness unlike anything we’ve seen. These individuals and organizations have bravely gone above and beyond, and we at Cerner are humbled by the opportunity to support their important work.
As the COVID-19 virus spread across the globe and researchers mobilized to develop a safe and effective vaccine, Cerner’s clients adapted and innovated to serve their communities. In the earliest days of the pandemic, they quickly stood up field hospitals and surge locations in cities like London, Madrid, Dubai, Seattle and New York. Equipped with forecasting tools, predictive models and Cerner’s Command Center dashboard, they implemented new technologies to maintain their operations. Cerner clients also rapidly expanded telehealth capacity and functionality – in some cases, increasing virtual appointment throughput by more than 100-fold – to limit the spread of COVID-19.