Business
More Pa. hospitals feel economic pain
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 23, 2009
The economic climate for general, acute-care hospitals in Pennsylvania has gotten worse since December 2008, according to a survey released March 12 by Hospital & Healthsystem Assn. of Pennsylvania.
Almost 95% of the hospitals now say the recession has affected their financial projections for the current fiscal year. This has caused 84% to reduce or consider reducing staff. Also, 88% reduced capital spending for building improvements, renovations, or new equipment.
According to the survey: Fifty-nine percent saw a moderate-to-significant increase in patients without health care coverage or patients needing financial help; 53% reported a moderate-to-significant decrease in admissions; and 53% reported a moderate-to-significant decrease in elective procedures.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/23/bibf0323.htm.
