Susan Dentzer: How to design a national strategy to end the healthcare workforce crisis
Signs that the United States is in the midst of a healthcare workforce crisis are everywhere: More than 7,000 nurses returned to work in January at two major New York hospitals, having won commitments for higher staffing levels in settling a three-day strike. Physician groups, including many from America’s Physician Groups, report steep hurdles and…
Andrew Donahue: Why the nation could see major healthcare reform legislation soon
Don’t expect much healthcare reform from the 118th Congress. That’s what many pundits said after the mid-term elections, based on two common assumptions. 1 The administration had its shot. During the first two years of President Joe Biden’s first term, when Democrats controlled the White House, the Senate and the House, healthcare reform was mostly…
Jill Geisler: Resolve to upgrade your communication in 2023
What are your key goals for 2023? You’ve probably established your business goals for the year ahead. But what about personal goals? What can you do to improve your leadership effectiveness and benefit your team? Let me offer a worthy resolution: In 2023, pledge to upgrade the quality of your communication. It’s a critical part…
David Johnson: The end of traditional nonprofit healthcare business models?
What is going on with nonprofit health systems? I recently gave a keynote address to an investor forum that included CEOs from roughly a dozen nonprofit health systems. We dug into the structural and environmental challenges confronting their organizations. When queried, over half the CEOs admitted that their asset-heavy business models were not sustainable. Most…
Florida Chapter fosters industry innovators
HFMA’s Florida Chapter hosted a Professional Development & Innovator Workshop on Sept. 18, the first day of its 2022 Fall Conference at the Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood, Florida. This wasn’t the Chapter’s first professional development workshop. It was, however, different from those previously offered. A shift in focus That difference was due to the Chapter’s…
Pete November is new CEO at Ochsner Health
The Ochsner Health board of directors has unanimously appointed Pete November, JD, CPA, as CEO. November previously served as executive vice president and CFO of the New Orleans-based health system. “Pete is an exemplary leader who has a deep understanding of Ochsner Health, our patients and the communities we serve,” said Andy Wisdom, Ochsner board…
Aaron Crane: HFMA launches DEI task force
Season’s greetings to everyone! As we prepare to close out 2022 and ring in a new year, I am excited to let you know about the HFMA Board of Directors’ recent decision to launch a task force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). But first, a bit of background. Earlier this year, Deloitte published an…
Paul Keckley: 3 trends to watch for in the 2023 healthcare regulatory agenda
The year 2023 will be a consequential one for healthcare finance professionals. With the near certainty that the COVID-19 public health emergency will come to an official end, three convergent trends will have a heightened impact on the solvency and liquidity of provider organizations. 1. Implementation of federal policies to lower inflation The Federal Reserve’s…
My final holiday message to the HFMA community
Five years ago, in my holiday message to HFMA members, I wrote that during this busy time of year, we should make time for reflection, soul searching and connecting with something that transcends personal concerns, no matter which winter holiday we celebrate or what our faith traditions may be. That’s the core of my holiday…
Gail Wilensky: Cybersecurity in healthcare has emerged as a national priority
The threat of cyberattacks on healthcare facilities has taken on a new immediacy with the increased use of electronic communication during the pandemic. The issue of cybersecurity has rapidly risen to become a predominant concern for healthcare organizations, with profound implications for the nation as a whole.a The issue is particularly concerning where cyberattacks can…