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Hospital performance in October reflects continued stabilization with margins above pandemic levels and volumes holding steady. The median Kaufman Hall Calendar Year-To-Date Operating Margin Index reflecting actual margins was 1.2% in October.

Explore the current state of health system growth and performance measurement; progress the industry has made in adopting consumer-centric, relationship-focused metrics; the barriers they face; and the types of decisions and strategies that arise from taking a more consumer-centric approach.

While hospitals’ overall performance declined slightly in September compared to the previous month, the median Kaufman Hall Calendar Year-To-Date Operating Margin Index reflecting actual margins was 1.4% in September.

Physicians are operating at record-high levels of productivity compared to recent years but receiving less pay per unit of work. The median investment/subsidy per provider continues to increase, but the pace is slowing with only a 1% change from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023.

Hospitals and health systems are seeing some signs of stabilization in 2023 following an extremely difficult year in 2022. Workforce-related challenges persist, however, keeping costs high and contributing to issues with patient access to care.

With 18 announced transactions, Q3 2023 continued the momentum in activity we have seen throughout the year. A high percentage of financially distressed organizations in this quarter’s transactions reflected the impact of challenging operational and financial headwinds.

While hospital operating margins remain below historical levels, overall conditions have stabilized in 2023. The median Kaufman Hall Calendar Year-To-Date Operating Margin Index reflecting actual margins was 1.1% in August.

Despite significant volatility in the capital markets and operating and financial headwinds in the healthcare industry, medical office buildings are holding their own as attractive investment opportunities, according to our survey of a diverse range of real estate investors.

Hospitals’ financial performance worsened in July as volumes fell, but margins remain improved from 2022. The median Kaufman Hall Calendar Year-To-Date Operating Margin Index reflecting actual margins was 1.3% in July.

Physician and provider productivity is on the rise as patients increasingly seek care in ambulatory settings. However, increased revenue and productivity in Q2 was not enough to offset rising expenses as the median investment/subsidy per provider still rose 5% year-over-year to $224,243.

Most hospitals underperformed in June as high expenses and economic pressures persist. As margins continue to stabilize on the surface, the gap between high-performing hospitals and those struggling in this new “new normal” is widening.

A significant increase in the number of announced transactions in Q2 2023—20, as compared to 15 transactions announced in Q1 2023—brought the quarter in line with pre-pandemic activity levels.