How the Economy Is Affecting Hospitals
The report "The Economic Crisis: Ongoing Monitoring of Impact on Hospitals," released in November 2009 by the American Hospital Association, details how the economy is affecting hospitals in regard to their patients, finances, and physicians.
The economy is affecting the patients and communities that hospitals serve. The number of emergency department patients without insurance is increasing for six out of 10 hospitals, and a higher proportion of patients cannot pay for health care. This is causing hospitals to see more patients who are covered by Medicaid and other public programs for low income populations. Some people are putting off needed care altogether, and hospitals are seeing significant decreases in the amount of patients seeking inpatient and elective services. With patients not being able to afford health care, more of them are seeking community health services. An increased need for subsidized services, such as public clinics, screenings, and outreaches, was seen by over half of hospitals. But with hospitals experiencing decreasing budgets and charitable donations, one in five had to reduce these types of services concerning post acute care, patient education, and behavioral health.
The economy has affected the financial situation of most hospitals. Cutbacks to address economic concerns have been made in every nine out of 10 hospitals, with more than half - 51 percent - reducing hospital staff. Other changes include 84 percent of hospitals cutting administrative expenses, 20 percent reducing services, and 7 percent of hospitals considering a merger. The financial setbacks have also affected the hospital facilities themselves, with seven out of 10 hospitals cutting spending for facility upgrades, clinical technology, and information technology since the beginning of 2008. While hospitals have had to cut their budgets for future endeavors, they have also had to stop current ones. More than 7 of 10 hospitals decided to quit or reduce projects that were in progress, with 40 percent scaling back on already in-progress projects, 8 percent stopping them altogether. Forty-nine percent of hospitals made the decision to not even begin projects that were already planned.
The economy has affected the physicians working in hospitals. An increase of the amount of financial support physicians were seeking was reported in eight out of 10 hospitals, which included on-call pay and employment. Seventy-nine percent of physicians were seeking increased pay for on-call or other services they provided to hospitals and 74 percent were seeking hospital employment. Some physicians reported struggling to keep their practices open, with 36 percent seeking to sell their practice and 26 percent seeking to partner on equipment purchases.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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