Costs & Cost Controls
Hospitals' margins remain negative in November, 10th consecutive month
Editor's Note Hospitals and healthcare systems across the nation experienced their 10th consecutive month of negative profit margins, according to data Kaufman Hall released in a report on November 30, the American Hospital Association November 30 reports. The report notes that the pressures of increased expenses is a key driver…
Challenges and best practices with strategizing flip rooms
Consider the following requests posed to OR scheduling staff by surgeons: • “I need two blocks in different rooms to accommodate my daily case volume.” • “Can’t I just use that empty room to start my next case while the first case is wrapping up?” Surgeon requests like these are…
Negotiating contracts with anesthesia: Set clear expectations and hire who you know
David Shapiro, MD, who is a risk manager/medical director at several ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) near Tallahassee, Florida, has seen his fair share of contracts with anesthesia services. Navigating these types of contracts at a time when anesthesiology is suffering from a workforce shortage and high costs for services is…
Six low-cost solutions for improving staff retention
Editor's Note Severe staffing shortages paired with high labor costs are among the most significant challenges faced by hospitals today, according to responses from hospital executives in an October 18 KaufmanHall survey, HealthLeaders October 31 reports. The survey, named the 2022 State of Healthcare Improvement Report, shows that nearly half…
FDA issues Safety Communication on tracheostomy tube shortages
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 31 issued a Medical Device Safety Communication on tracheostomy tube shortages. Included in the shortages are Bivona tracheostomy tubes manufactured by ICU Medical, which are more likely to affect pediatric patients. Also on the shortage list are JOH Tube Tracheostomy…
Five healthcare organizations raising nurses’ pay
Editor's Note Becker’s Hospital Review on October 25 reported that the following five hospitals and healthcare systems have announced plans to raise nurses’ pay. The five are: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune City, New Jersey—union contract pay increase between 8% and 11% UMass Memorial Health, Worcester, Massachusetts—union contract pay…
Report: Hospitals will likely experience the worst financial year in decades
Editor's Note On October 25, Health Affairs reported that healthcare systems continue to face challenges in a post-pandemic environment but are likely to have the worst financial year in decades, according to Becker’s Hospital CFO Report October 26. US hospitals saw fluctuations in operating margins in 2022 but are still…
Session: Preparing for OR Renovations
Editor's Note In this session, Maria Sullivan, MSN, MMHC, RM, CNOR, OR manager of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, walked attendees through her journey of renovating the 20-year-old ORs at Monroe Carell. According to Sullivan, here are a few considerations people need to keep in mind…
USDA will award $110 million in grants to improve rural healthcare systems
Editor's Note On October 12, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced in a press release that they will award $110 million in grants to improve healthcare facilities in rural areas. This Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program is made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan…
Report: More than half of administrative healthcare spending in the US is wasteful
Editor’s Note A report published in Health Affairs on October 6 claimed that up to 30% of healthcare spending is used for administrative purposes, and more than half of that is not significantly contributing to health outcomes, Becker’s Hospital Review October 10 reports. In 2019, Health Affairs launched the Council…
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