Editor's Note A recent report from management consulting firm Oliver Wyman finds that Generation Z’s view of healthcare differs from its predecessors, the January 24 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The report was written after 2 years of focus groups and surveys of 10,000 individuals in the US and UK who…

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Editor's Note According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022 ended on a high note as far as healthcare employment trends go, with December reflecting 16,687,700 employed workers—up 54,700 from November—and a rise of 15,700 in hospital jobs. Overall healthcare job growth in 2022 averaged 49,000 jobs each month, compared with…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, finds that more severe acute COVID-19 illness, a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and being unvaccinated before infection were linked to a higher risk of reporting 28 days or more of…

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For healthcare, and for hospitals and health systems especially, 2022 was one of the years with the worst financial performance seen in decades. Monthly reports throughout last year depicted rising costs, mostly exacerbated by the crippling staff shortages and a reliance on more expensive contract staff, and diminished profit margins.…

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Nationwide staffing shortages are causing significant strain on healthcare systems. Hospital leaders have to be creative with how to mitigate this challenge while still prioritizing patient care. Healthcare workers are essential, but labor costs are often the largest expenses for hospitals. Even before the pandemic, labor costs, including recruitment, retention,…

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When making decisions about technology and equipment, there is a tendency to focus on immediate productivity increases—or perhaps, practical aspects such as carrying out an implementation or training staff. But here is another major issue: how to maintain OR equipment once the warranty runs out. This is more complex than…

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Over my 40-year career—after starting at the bedside in surgical intensive care, moving to emergency medicine, and then to perioperative services—I have been fortunate to progress into executive leadership positions in academic medical center health systems and community hospitals, consult with a top global advisory firm, and now work in…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 10 announced that it had recently issued two warning letters to Olympus Medical Systems Corporation and one of its subsidiaries, Aizu Olympus Co, Ltd, after facility inspections. The letters addressed violations related to medical device reporting (MDR) requirements and quality…

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Editor's Note This study from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, finds that the introduction and removal of Michigan’s executive order curtailing elective surgery during COVID-19 lagged behind the ramp-down and ramp-up of elective surgery volume. Hospitals had already achieved a 91.7% reduction in case volume before the executive order…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 10 announced that it had elevated the Leadership (LD) Standard LD.04.03.08, which addresses healthcare disparities as a quality and safety priority, to a National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG), effective July 1, 2023. Current requirements for accreditation will not change, and the intent behind…

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