If significant portions of our workforce are unable to work effectively as a result of the
COVID-19
pandemic, including because of illness, quarantines, facility closures, ineffective remote work arrangements, supply chain disruptions or technology failures or other limitations, our operations would be adversely impacted. We have already incurred and will continue to incur additional costs related to protecting the health and well-being and meeting the needs of our patients, employees, medical staff members and contractors. We expect to continue to incur additional costs, which may be significant, as we continue to implement operational changes in response to this pandemic. We may also face liability to the extent we receive claims from our employees, customers or related third-parties alleging exposure
to COVID-19 in
connection with our operations or at one of our facilities. In addition, we may be subject to a governmental enforcement action if we fail to comply with applicable health and safety regulations.
Our results of operations have been and will be negatively impacted by these developments. In addition, changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies or practices as a result of, or in response
to COVID-19, could
affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Although social contact restrictions have eased across the U.S. and most states have lifted moratoriums
on non-emergent procedures,
some restrictions remain in place, and some states
are re-imposing certain
restrictions due to increasing rates
of COVID-19 cases
as new variants emerge. Further, additional closings and restrictions on hours and services may occur for an unpredictable amount of time. Due to the concentration of our facilities in Texas and Florida, we are particularly sensitive to the increase
in COVID-19 cases
in those states, where the pandemic could have a disproportionate effect on our business. Given the many uncertainties and far reaching consequences of potential developments, we cannot ensure that
the COVID-19 outbreak
and the many related impacts will not require extended or additional imaging center closures and other disruptions to our business or will not materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition in the period beyond December 31, 2021.
Broad economic factors resulting from the
current COVID-19 pandemic,
including high unemployment and underemployment rates and reduced consumer spending and confidence, also affect our service mix, revenue mix payor mix and patient volumes, as well as our ability to collect outstanding receivables. Business closings and layoffs in the areas where we operate may lead to increases in the uninsured and underinsured populations and adversely affect demand for our services, as well as the ability of patients and other payors to pay for services rendered. Any increase in the amount or deterioration in the collectability of patient accounts receivable will adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations, requiring an increased level of working capital. In addition, our results and financial condition may be adversely affected by federal, state or local laws, regulations, orders, or other governmental or regulatory actions addressing the
current COVID-19 pandemic
or the U.S. health care system, which could result in direct or indirect restrictions to our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Evolving factors such as the level and timing of the distribution of efficacious vaccines across the world and the extent of any resurgences of the virus or emergence of new variants of the virus, such as the Delta variant and the Omicron variant, may impact the stability of economic recovery and growth.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks and may incur increasing costs to minimize those risks.
Cybersecurity threats and incidents have increased in recent years, and we may be subject to heightened cyber-related risks in part due to the extended period of remote work arrangements due to the
COVID-19
pandemic. Recent cyberattacks purportedly originated by Russian controlled entities have exacerbated in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and our systems may be infiltrated by foreign actors. Our business depends on the proper functioning and availability of our information technology platform, including communications and data processing systems and our proprietary systems. We are also required to effect electronic transmissions with third parties. We cannot guarantee that the controls and procedures we or third parties have in place to protect or recover our systems and information will be effective, successful or sufficiently rapid to avoid harm to our business.
Security breaches, including at third parties that have our information, could expose us to a risk of loss or misuse of our information, litigation and potential liability. In addition, cyber incidents, such as ransomware attacks, that impact the availability, reliability, speed, accuracy or other proper functioning of our systems could have a significant impact on our operations and financial results. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyberattacks. A significant cyber incident, including system failure, security breach, disruption by malware or other damage could interrupt or delay our operations, result in a violation of applicable cybersecurity and privacy and other laws, damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers or expose sensitive customer data, or give rise to monetary fines and other penalties, which could be significant.
Our systems have experienced various immaterial security breaches in the past that have not had a material impact on our business or financial condition. While management is not aware of a cybersecurity incident that has had a material effect on our operations, there can be no assurances that a cybersecurity incident that could have a material impact on us will not occur in the future.