Hospital CEOs peg financial challenges as top issue
Hospital CEOs cited financial challenges as their top concern in 2019, according to a new survey from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
The survey asked community hospital CEOs and ACHE members about the top challenges they faced, ranking 11 issues in order of importance. The 2019 survey received 392 responses.
In addition to financial challenges, CEOs were also concerned about personnel shortages, which ranked second, and behavioral health/addition issues, which ranked third.
"While the financial climate continues to be a challenge, leaders remain dedicated to ensuring an expert workforce is well prepared to meet the expanded needs of patients and communities," Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, president and CEO of ACHE, said in a statement.
Within financial challenges, the top area of concern was the increasing cost for staff, supplies and more; 76% said this was the top issue. That was followed by Medicaid reimbursement (71%), bad debt (60%), reducing operating costs (56%) and managed care and other commercial insurance payments (54%).
The biggest concern for personnel shortages was registered nurses (73%), followed by primary care physicians (61%) and technicians (61%).
For behavioral health/addition issues, which has only been on the survey for two years, a lack of appropriate facilities or programs in communities was the top concern (81%). CEOs also cited lack of funding for addressing these issues (73%) and insufficient reimbursement specifically for these services (67%) were also top concerns. The overall issue of behavioral health has climbed in importance to CEOs, jumping from fifth the previous year.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."