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Nine months into an extremely challenging year characterized by dramatic fluctuations in margin, U.S. hospitals and health systems are still operating substantially below pre-pandemic levels.

In the two and half years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020, consumer behavior has shifted dramatically—and potentially irreversibly—in every aspect of American life.

Organizations that pursue consumer strategies and value-based approaches together will be much more likely to achieve their goals while increasing their ability to effectively compete against new industry entrants.

The pandemic has both accelerated and intensified the pressures hospitals and health systems face. Organizations that focus on “no regrets” decision-making will help ensure their viability in the short term and their options in the long term.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, our nation’s hospitals and health systems have coped with intense pressure on staff and resources. As hospital executives...

U.S. hospitals and health systems are experiencing some of the worst margins since the beginning of the pandemic, and they lack the federal funds to offset the damage. The gains hospitals saw in recent months reversed themselves in July, as lagging outpatient volumes shrunk revenues and expenses jumped up from June.

Over the last decade, the physician enterprise has undergone transformative changes. As of 2021, 73.9% of physicians were employed by hospitals or other corporate entities, according to...

U.S. hospitals and health systems are now halfway through an enormously difficult year. While margins were up in June compared to May, expenses remain at historic highs, leaving...

Kaufman Hall analysis shows some improvement in revenues and volumes from April to May ‘22, but hospitals continue to perform below pre-pandemic levels.

Erik Swanson discusses the key findings from the most recent National Hospital Flash Report and the continued financial struggles of hospitals nationwide in a new Hospital Finance Podcast episode.

2022 is shaping up to be a difficult year for our clients. Hospital operating margins remained in the red for a fourth consecutive month in April as organizations struggle to rebound from the Omicron surge. Although volumes improved and costs abated slightly in March, this changed in April.

U.S. hospitals and health systems fared better in March following a difficult start to the year due to January’s devastating Omicron surge. While repercussions of the surge persist, hospitals saw early signs of relief as outpatient volumes and revenues returned and expenses eased with fewer high acuity patients.