Takeaways One of the lessons learned when it comes to data was to make sure you do it right the first time. A big drive for standardization was to leverage the distribution center to send excess inventory that some sites had to sites that needed them. Another drive was the…

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Takeaways Rural hospital purchases by larger health systems should improve access to surgical treatment in remote areas, but some acquisitions have resulted in decreased care quality and reduced access to services, as shown by recent examples. Despite challenges, rural hospital acquisitions can lead to expanded services, enhanced perioperative support, and…

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Access to quality care in rural areas has been making headlines since the pandemic began. The issue of ensuring appropriate access to services in rural and community hospitals is not a new concern. But with the unprecedented number of shutdowns—not only of certain departments and service lines but also total…

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In April, the long-awaited results of the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey (Workforce Survey) were released. For researchers and academics with an interest in nursing workforce and professional development data, this report is a treasure trove of information as “the only continuous national, randomized survey of this size.” This version…

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While demand for OR services can be unpredictable, supply is largely fixed—well below the baseline for many hospitals and health systems. The ability to match supply and demand within perioperative services is critical to efficient ORs, as hospitals and health systems must operate with constrained staffing and anesthesia resources. On…

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With healthcare costs continuing to rise, hospitals, payers, and patients are looking for different venues for care and ways to cut costs while maintaining quality and safety. As more surgical procedures are safely performed in outpatient settings, more ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are being built or restructured. Partnerships between hospitals…

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Editor's Note In its first public study of health system executives, Incredible Health reveals that 94% of executives describe the nursing shortage as “critical.” The 2023 Healthcare Executive Report, released June 13, which solicited responses from 100 US health system executives, also finds the following: 68% say they do not…

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Editor's Note This study, led by Boston University and VA Boston Healthcare System, finds a large variation in mortality across Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 11.4 million VHA enrollees during 2016 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Among the findings: VHA-enrolled veterans…

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Editor's Note This study from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary (OACT) estimates that US healthcare spending will grow by 5.4% per year on average from 2022 to 2031, now that the COVID-19 public health emergency has ended. Rising from $4.4 to $7.17 trillion,…

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Editor's Note In a new survey conducted by Georgetown University, in partnership with Bank of America, adults cite paid time off (65%) and a flexible work schedule (58%) as the top benefits they look for when choosing an employer. Almost three quarters (73%) also want benefits that can travel with…

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