by
Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor | June 23, 2011
But it should be noted the responses were slightly more optimistic than in 2009, when Novation last conducted the survey. That year, nearly 84 percent of respondents said they planned on reducing supply spending, nearly twice the number now.
"While showing slight improvement, at bottom, hospitals are still struggling financially and are constantly looking for ways to deliver high quality care in the most cost-effective way," Larry McComber, senior vice president, strategic services, with Novation, told DOTmed News by e-mail.
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Biggest concerns
Driving the concerns of hospitals were reimbursement cuts (28 percent listed it as the number one concern), impact of health care reform (17 percent for number one), reduced operating margins (15 percent) and falling patient volumes (21 percent). About one in 10 respondents said bad debt and charity care -- patients stiffing the hospital for fees -- were their primary concerns.
But access to capital funding, a major problem during the credit crunch, and the rocketing costs of raw materials were each only the top worry for 4 percent of respondents.
Still, of the 12 or so listed top concerns, most caused at least some anguish.
"Most of these are number one on the list," a manager wrote in the survey.
Plus, a plurality of hospitals say they still haven't escaped from the clutches of the recent recession. One-fifth of respondents said they've improved financially since the downturn, but 31 percent say there has been no change in their financial situation. And nearly 48 percent said they're worse off than they were before.
Other highlights
Other findings from the survey include:
• Half of respondents said staffing would decrease over the next year, with much of the drop in support services.
• Only one-fifth of respondents predict surgical procedure volumes will shrink. However, most think numbers should should go up or stay the same next year. Of those expecting an increase, the overwhelming majority say it should occur in knee and hip procedures.
The National Economic Impact Survey had 119 respondents from 116 hospitals affiliated with VHA Inc. and University HealthSystem Consortium, for a 14 percent response rate, according to Novation.
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