Recently a Becker Hospital Review article http://www.beckershospitalreview.com * noted;” Why do Americans say yes to supersizing? Because in America, bigger is better — or at least, that’s been the way of thinking for a long time. The same accepted wisdom has been alive and well in healthcare for decades. “
“In 1975 there were more than 7,000 hospitals in the U.S. Today there are 5,700. Despite having fewer hospitals, the occupancy rate has also declined. In 1975, 76 percent of hospital beds were filled. In 2012, the rate was 61 percent. In fact, in the six years from 2006 through 2012, the average Medicare inpatient occupancy for the country declined 13 percent, according to MedPAC. Even more telling, there are 121 metropolitan statistical areas (the technical term for ‘market’) with only a 20-50 percent occupancy rate in the U.S.”
“Our country is over-bedded. We’ve seen the affects of this by way of hospital closures and significant consolidation — both of which are likely to continue as medical advances and preventive care help keep more patients out of the hospital.”
“What does this mean for healthcare leaders? There will be fewer hospitals. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could mean lost jobs and struggling organizations if leaders aren’t proactive about assessing their current assets and how they may or may not serve the organization in the future.”
* to read the full BHR article “America Loves Getting Bigger, and Therein Lies the Problem for Healthcare” by Lindsey Dunn, highlight and click on open hyperlink http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-blog/america-loves-getting-bigger-and-therein-lies-the-problem-for-healthcare.html
Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands? ™ provides information to consumers on understanding, managing and navigating health care options.
Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration
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