U.S. Hospitals Saw Downturns During a Difficult September
High numbers of high-acuity patients coupled with escalating expenses continued to stress the nation’s hospitals and health systems in September, according to the latest National Hospital Flash Report. Overall hospital performance declined across most metrics for the month.
While revenues increased from prior year, they decreased month-over-month as volumes declined relative to pre-pandemic levels and expenses rose dramatically. Hospital operating margins decreased year-over-year compared to both 2020 and 2019 performance, not including federal CARES aid.
Month-over-month, hospitals saw:
- Median change in Operating Margin decline 18.2%
- Adjusted Discharges drop 5.1%
- Gross Operating Revenues decrease 1.4%
- Total Expense per Adjusted Discharge increase 7.6%
erik-swanson-headshot.jpg
Image
Erik Swanson
Senior Vice President
Erik Swanson is a Senior Vice President with Kaufman Hall’s Data Analytics practice, focusing on Performance Improvement.
Learn More About Erik
Read More from this Report Series
National Hospital Flash Report Summary: November 2021
Hospital Margins Drop for a Second Month as Labor Expenses Climb U.S. hospitals and health systems were hit with a second consecutive month of margin declines in October as mounting...
Research Report
National Hospital Flash Report Summary: September 2021
Rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations from the hyper-transmissible Delta variant continued to deepen pressures on the nation’s hospitals and health systems in August, according to the latest issue of Kaufman Hall’s National Hospital Flash Report.
Research Report
National Hospital Flash Report Summary: August 2021
A resurgence of COVID-19 cases from rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant is raising new uncertainties for hospitals and health systems across the country.
Research Report