Workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and rising expenses are just a few of the major challenges hospital leaders are facing today, along with an increasing threat of cybersecurity attacks. Right now, it seems leaders need to re-examine their current strategies, take data-driven approaches, and find ways to do more with less if they are to overcome the myriad challenges that arose out of the pandemic.
In this month’s news roundup, we’ll take a closer look at the challenges hospital CIOs, in particular, are facing and explore some emerging trends to look out for as we enter the final months of the year. Beyond that, we’ll dive deeper into how AI and behavioral science can help hospitals take the right actions in order to reduce or eliminate inefficiencies that end up costing them billions of dollars.
Plus, what’s happening in the healthcare job market? We’ll offer up a recent report that indicates healthcare job losses have recovered from the pandemic, and we’ll also highlight how inadequate cleaning in hospitals is contributing to the rise of dangerous superbugs.
10 observations and emerging health IT trends
Becker’s Hospital Review
From increased scrutiny of digital technology spending to finding the right mix of in-person and virtual care to trouble recruiting and retaining IT talent, especially cybersecurity talent — hospital CIOs are dealing with many complex decisions. Becker’s Health IT takes a closer look at the top 10 emerging trends and challenges that came out at Becker’s 7th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM event in Chicago this month.
Using AI and behavioral science to improve hospital operations
Healthcare IT News
Each year, the U.S. healthcare system loses more than $1 trillion in waste, according to The Journal of the American Medical Association. One major cause is inefficient operations. As a result, care teams and staff are experiencing epidemic levels of burnout, patients are unable to access the care they need in a timely manner, and hospital margins are at record lows.
By using AI-based technology that incorporates behavioral science, hospitals can make it easy for individuals across the hospital – and even outside stakeholders, like independent surgeons in the community – to take the right actions to reduce or eliminate inefficiencies. Significant benefits accrue for staff, patients, and the hospital’s bottom line.
With dangerous superbugs on the rise, hospital cleanup means life or death
New York Post
Hospital rooms, operating rooms and medical equipment are so inadequately cleaned that any patient going into a hospital is at risk of getting a deadly superbug. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest data show alarming increases in the most dangerous superbugs: Acinetobacter up 78%, Candida auris up 60% and notorious MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) up 13% year over year.
Hospitals ramping up recruiting, employee benefit offerings amid labor shortage fears, survey finds
Fierce Healthcare
Concerns of a sustained workforce shortage and a competitive labor market has more hospitals sweetening the pot for prospective and current employees alike, according to a new survey of more than 1,200 hospitals’ benefits.
According to Sheena Singh, senior vice president of Aon’s national healthcare industry practice, “This (labor) shortage threatens to impact patient care delivery, accelerate burnout among clinical staff and delay attainment of organizational objectives. As a result, health systems have prioritized benefits as a mechanism to reward and build a resilient workforce.”
Healthcare jobs recovered from early pandemic losses
Healthcare Dive
Healthcare jobs have finally returned to levels seen in February 2020, right before the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S.
Over the past two years as the industry recovered from major job losses, certain occupations fared better than others. Ambulatory service jobs have seen the most consistent gains through the pandemic, while nursing homes saw additional job losses but are now seeing gains.
