Vinay Gadade
Beyond the Budget Cuts: How Community Hospitals Can Stop Referring Revenue Away
Community hospitals are at a crossroads. Shrinking margins, policy shifts like recent legislation, and mounting Medicaid constraints are stretching organizations thin. Yet one thing hasn’t changed: the communities these hospitals serve still need access to high-quality, local care. Read more about the ways your organization could leverage tools, resources, and…
Read MoreStates most, least prepared for aging population: Seniorly
Hawaii is the most prepared state to address the healthcare needs of the U.S.’s aging population, while Oregon is the least, according to an analysis by Seniorly. Seniorly examined each state across three dimensions — population trends, financial readiness and healthcare capacity — to devise the ranking. Here are the…
Read MoreMaternal mortality rates, by state
In Louisiana, the risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes is more than four times higher than in California, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund. In 2023, Louisiana had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S., at 41.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. In California,…
Read MoreHealth systems prioritize primary care, plan AI expansion
U.S. health systems are making primary care a strategic priority, with most planning to expand their footprint and adopt AI tools to improve operations, according to new research from Bain & Company. The survey, conducted in June, includes responses from 60 health system executives—most from academic medical centers and hospitals…
Read More‘Immediate and profound’: How hospital closures affect rural communities
As hospitals across the U.S. continue to grapple with financial challenges, cuts and even closures, the toll on rural communities has also increased. In 2025 alone, Becker’s has reported on 21 hospital closures. The effects of these closures can move beyond healthcare, hurting local economies and eroding the sense of…
Read MoreGeorgia greenlights $1.1B Wellstar hospital
The Georgia Department of Community Health has approved Wellstar Health System’s application to build a $1.1 billion hospital, the Marietta, Ga.-based health system confirmed to Becker’s Oct. 21. The 230-bed Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center at Acworth (Ga.) is expected to open in 2031. Wellstar filed a certificate-of-need application in…
Read More10 safest cities in the US
Warwick, R.I., is the safest city in the U.S., according to a new analysis published by WalletHub. The personal finance company released its 2025 “Safest Cities in America” ranking on Oct. 20. The ranking compares 182 cities across three dimensions: home and community safety; natural-disaster risk; and financial safety. WalletHub…
Read More40% of US workers have ‘quality’ jobs: Study
Two in 5 U.S. employees work in a “quality” job — one that allows employees to meet basic financial needs, feel safe and respected, expand their skills, have a voice in decisions affecting them and maintain some control over their work, according to the American Job Quality Study. The study,…
Read MoreFDA approves 1-minute HIV self-test
The FDA has approved bioLytical Laboratories’ Insti HIV self test. The company touts it as the fastest home-use HIV test available in the U.S., with results in 60 seconds or less. BioLytical said the test provides a private, portable and highly accurate option for individuals to determine their HIV status…
Read More56 hospitals with the lowest readmission rates by state
Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital has the lowest unplanned readmission rate in the nation, according to CMS. CMS’ Unplanned Hospital Visits data is based on provider data for hospital return days, including unplanned readmission and unplanned hospital visit measures after outpatient procedures from July 2023 to June 2024. CMS updated…
Read MoreWhere hospital cyber defenses fall short
Cyberattacks on hospitals are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated and more disruptive. They can paralyze EHRs, delay surgeries and force ambulances to divert. Yet many of the most persistent vulnerabilities aren’t buried deep in code — they sit at the messy intersection of technology and clinical practice. Chief medical information…
Read MoreTurbulent virus season ahead for hospitals
Although the CDC projects a moderate influenza season this winter, U.S. hospitals face a plethora of changes, including federal vaccine policy shifts, hospital-at-home disruptions and a growing measles outbreak. The 2024-25 flu season was among the most severe since 2010, with approximately 47 million illnesses, 21 million healthcare visits, 610,000…
Read MoreTop 10 health IT investment priorities
Revenue cycle management tops the list of healthcare providers’ top IT investment strategies, Bain & Co. and KLAS Research reported. Here are the percentages of 228 healthcare providers who listed each of these areas as a top-three investment priority, according to an Oct. 9 article from the management consultant and…
Read More‘Defining moment’ for nursing: Joint Commission recognizes staffing as quality component
Starting in 2026, The Joint Commission will formally recognize nurse staffing as a national performance goal, meaning hospitals seeking accreditation must meet certain standards related to staffing and oversight. Under the new element of performance, known as Goal 12, healthcare organizations must have a nurse executive responsible for overseeing staffing…
Read MoreHealthcare cybersecurity so far in 2025: 5 notes
While the total of breached patient records so far in 2025 pales in comparison to the previous two years, the “number is still far too high and should not be tolerated as the norm,” American Hospital Association leaders wrote. Here are five healthcare cybersecurity-related figures from the Oct. 7 article…
Read MoreDenials are the new normal: How hospitals can stop playing defense
Payer denials are increasing in frequency and complexity, costing healthcare organizations billions. During a recent session at Becker’s Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Meeting in Chicago leaders from CorroHealth explored how GenAI, data analytics and a strategic mindset can help providers fight back more effectively. Jerilyn Morrissey, MD,…
Read MoreNurse leaders in their own words: How the CNO role is evolving
Change management and technological savvy are emerging as essential skills for the next generation of chief nursing officers, nurse leaders told Becker’s. As hospitals and health systems continue to grapple with workforce shortages and rising care demands, CNOs are increasingly expected to navigate a proliferation of new technologies, lead efforts…
Read MoreGeorgia health system warns of scam phone calls
Patients of Albany, Ga.-based Phoebe Putney Health System have reportedly been receiving phone calls with scams of fake test results and gift card giveaways. The health system is urging patients who receive suspicious calls to hang up call and call Phoebe Putny directly to verify and report them to law…
Read MoreHealthcare ransomware attacks shift from hospitals to vendors: Report
Ransomware attacks on U.S. healthcare businesses have increased in 2025, even as incidents targeting hospitals and clinics declined, according to a new report from Comparitech published Oct. 9. Here are five key findings from the report: From January through September, 257 ransomware incidents were recorded across U.S. healthcare providers and…
Read MoreTake back our hospitals: Physicians call to repeal ACA section 6001
Section 6001 of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) effectively banned physician-owned hospitals (POH) in the United States. This legislation was nominally motivated by concerns over conflict-of-interest when physicians are stakeholders in the business of medicine, but in reality, was the result of political horse-trading to secure enough votes to…
Read MoreViewpoint: Pediatric nurses are vital to healthcare
In our over five decades combined of pediatric nursing care and nursing leadership, we believe one fact to remain true: pediatric nurses are not only a vital role in healthcare, they are irreplaceable. In recognition of Pediatric Nurses Week 2025, we wanted to take the opportunity to recognize the work of…
Read MoreHow leaders rework systems to retain nurses
Hospitals are in a bind. As workforce shortages deepen and pay pressures mount, health systems are increasingly turning to technology to help retain their nurses. Many are piloting virtual nursing initiatives, ambient documentation and other AI-enabled tools designed to ease workloads. But ask chief nursing informatics officers where they are…
Read MoreHealthcare ranks among industries with most stressed managers: LinkedIn
Nearly 30% of U.S. employees say their manager is too stressed to help them at work, according to a recent LinkedIn News survey. Responses varied by industry. Hospitals and healthcare ranked fourth-highest, with 31% of respondents indicating their managers were too stressed to be of aid. LinkedIn surveyed 14,680 U.S.…
Read More20 most prescribed medications: GoodRx
GoodRx, a platform that tracks prescription drug use and prices across thousands of U.S. pharmacies, has become a popular tool for patients to find discounts and compare cash prices, making its data a useful snapshot of national prescribing trends. Here are the 20 most commonly prescribed medications from GoodRx: Atorvastatin…
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