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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Editor's Note On January 10, ECRI released a new report calling on healthcare leaders to change their approach and embrace Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved weight loss drugs. ECRI says there is a large body of evidence showing that these drugs are beneficial as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and…

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Editor's Note Hospitals and healthcare systems across the nation continue to face the staffing challenges which emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, reports January 9 Becker’s Hospital Review. This issue is a top priority for healthcare leaders who want to maintain adequate staffing in order to provide the best patient care.…

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Editor's Note Overall healthcare employment in the US was up in December to a seasonally adjusted 16,687,700 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 6. That’s up 54,700 since November. Hospital employment also was up by 15,700 jobs. The overall unemployment rate for December was 3.5%, for a…

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