Healthcare employment up in July
Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose by 55,000 from July to August, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released on August 1. Higher than the average over the prior 12 months of 42,000, the rise in healthcare employment compares to an overall…
Survey: Drug shortages impact hospital labor costs
Editor's Note Hospitals spent nearly $900 million in labor last year managing drug shortages, dedicating over 20 million hours to activities such as sourcing alternatives, updating systems, and communicating with care teams, according to a new Vizient survey published June 17. Conducted in late 2023 and detailed in Vizient’s June…
Tariffs stir uncertainty in hospital supply chains, health insurance premiums
Editor's Note Recent reporting from Axios reveals hospitals and health insurers are reporting new concerns about rising tariffs and trade policy uncertainty, with the former delaying purchasing decisions and the latter planning premium increases as a result. In the first article, published June 18, the outlet reports that health system…
Leapfrog safety data spotlights persistent gaps; Florida hospitals sue
Editor's Note For the first time, the Spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group introduces a “Straight A” designation for facilities that have earned top marks across five or more consecutive grading cycles. Published May 1, the latest edition of this biannual safety grade shows 346 hospitals—just 12%…
Healthgrades names best hospitals for patient outcomes
Editor's Note Healthgrades has announced its 2025 America's Best Hospitals Awards, recognizing the top 50, 100, and 250 hospitals in the U.S. for overall clinical performance. According to a January 28 announcement, the rankings are based on an analysis of approximately 4,500 hospitals, evaluating outcomes for more than 30 common…
Hospitals continue to grapple with IV fluid shortage
Editor's Note US hospitals continue to face a shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids due to Hurricane-related damage to the Baxter manufacturing facility that was responsible for 60% of the nation’s supply, MedPage Today reported December 31. Citing a report from Baxter, the article notes that the manufacturer has restored eight…
Fitch Ratings: Hospital credit outlook improves amid stabilizing margins
Editor's Note The credit outlook for the nonprofit hospital sector improved from “deteriorating” to “neutral” in Fitch Ratings’ 2025 report, the first revision in more than 2 years. Healthcare Dive reported the news December 11. According to the outlet, Fitch attributes the shift to “steady improvement” in hospital operating margins,…
HHS finalizes rule to expand kidney transplant access
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a new rule establishing the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, a 6-year, mandatory initiative to enhance access to kidney transplants, improve care quality, and reduce disparities. Managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the program…
Analysis: Overuse of back surgeries costs Medicare $2 billion, risks patient safety
Editor's Note More than 200,000 unnecessary back surgeries were performed on older adults from 2019 to 2021, costing Medicare approximately $2 billion and exposing patients to avoidable risks, according to a November 14 analysis from the Lown Institute. The evaluation focused on spinal fusion, laminectomy, and vertebroplasty procedures, which are…
AHA's Congressional "wish list" calls for financial relief, patient access, workforce protections
Editor's Note In a November 12 letter to Congress, the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlined its priorities for the lame-duck legislative session, focusing on measures to stabilize hospitals and health systems facing significant financial and operational pressures. If enacted, these recommendations would support the nation’s healthcare infrastructure amid rising…
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