It's been 5 years since the pandemic. Here's what's changed
Read Article: Modern Healthcare
Article Summary: Five years after the pandemic, healthcare organizations continue to grapple with long-term financial and operational impacts. Workforce shortages, regulatory uncertainties, and evolving care models are reshaping hospital strategies. The rise of telehealth and hospital-at-home programs has created opportunities but also introduced reimbursement risks. Meanwhile, ongoing clinician burnout and unionization efforts are driving up labor costs. With nursing home closures, hospitals face increased patient loads, further straining resources. Healthcare executives must adapt to these shifts while maintaining financial stability and care quality.
The Risk:
Financial Uncertainty in Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Programs: As pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities expire, hospitals may face reduced reimbursement for telehealth and hospital-at-home services. If Congress does not extend waivers, healthcare systems that invested in these models could experience revenue loss. (Area: Revenue and Reimbursement) (Category: Ancillary Services)
Shifting Hospital Strategies and Investment Priorities: Health systems are restructuring operations, relying on AI-driven forecasting and new care models to manage patient surges. While these strategies offer efficiency gains, they require significant investment, and failure to implement them effectively could impact financial performance. (Area: Strategy) (Category: Growth Initiatives)
Increased Patient Burden Due to Nursing Home Closures: The closure of hundreds of nursing homes has left hospitals with a higher volume of complex patients who lack post-acute care options. This creates capacity challenges, increases inpatient costs, and strains discharge planning. (Area: Operations) (Category: Capacity and Access)