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News|Articles|October 2, 2023
Hospital financials show signs of stabilizing
Author(s)Todd Shryock
Increasing August revenue helps boost performance
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Hospital financial performance across the nation has shown signs of
The median calendar year-to-date operating margin index for hospitals reached 1.1% in August, showing an increase from 0.9% in July. While these margins are still below historical levels, the data indicates that positive margins are becoming more frequent throughout 2023.
Hospitals have faced the challenges of rising expenses in the face of
Another positive trend noted in the report is the continued decline in average lengths of stay, down 4% month-over-month in August. This decrease suggests that patients are returning to more normal patterns of accessing care.
Erik Swanson, senior vice president of Data and Analytics at Kaufman Hall, emphasized the importance of this period of relative stability for hospitals. Swanson said in a statement: “This period of relative stabilization is the time for hospitals to re-engage in capital planning efforts. Hospitals may be feeling reluctant given the last few years, but those that wait may find themselves falling behind their competitors and missing out on key opportunities."
The August data from the report also highlighted a continued emphasis on care transitioning to the outpatient setting. Outpatient revenue and inpatient revenue per calendar day increased by 12% and 4%, respectively, on a month-over-month basis. This shift underscores the evolving nature of health care delivery and patient preferences.
The National Hospital Flash Report is based on data collected from more than 1,300 hospitals, drawing on insights from Syntellis Performance Solutions.
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