Ella Jeffries

Hospitals and health systems face mounting pharmacy-related challenges across access, affordability, workforce and supply chain, according to the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Environmental Scan. The report, published Dec. 3, was designed as a roadmap for hospital leaders and covers financial trends, developments in AI, chronic disease trends and more issues.…

Tariff uncertainty, inflation, and persistent import dependencies shaped hospital supply chain decisions throughout 2025, according to the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Environmental Scan. Supply and drug expenses accounted for more than one-fifth of total hospital spending last year — with supplies representing 13% and drugs 9%. At the same time,…

Nurse turnover and vacancy rates have declined since their pandemic-era peaks but remain slightly elevated, according to the 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report. The report, released in March, includes survey findings from 450 hospitals in 37 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment…

Healthcare remained the most expensive industry for data breaches in 2025 for the 14th consecutive year, according to the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Environmental Scan. The average cost of a healthcare breach in the U.S. was $9.8 million in 2025, outpacing all other sectors. Although this was down from $10.9…

Layoffs, AI-driven workplace changes and stagnant pay in 2025 have prompted some workers in their 40s to return to the classroom, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 13. Some are switching industries, while others are pursuing higher degrees to meet heightened qualification standards or enrolling in college for the first…

A study published Dec. 18 in the BMJ found hospitals acquired by real estate investment trusts can see a significantly higher risk of bankruptcy or closure, even as most quality-of-care and financial performance measures stay unchanged.  The study was led by researchers from the University of Chicago, Boston-based Massachusetts General…

Every healthcare executive in America knows the numbers by heart. Costs are climbing faster than reimbursements. Labor shortages drag on. Inflation keeps pushing the price of everything from surgical gloves to software. Meanwhile, the expectation never changes: improve patient outcomes and make life better for the people delivering the care.…

The FDA has granted full approval to rucaparib (Rubraca) for adults with BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The decision is based on a confirmatory analysis of a randomized trial of 405 patients who had progressed on prior androgen receptor pathway inhibitors, according to a Dec. 17 news release from the…

At just 26, Billy Rogers has stepped into his first hospital CEO role. He is leading Mountainview Medical Center, a critical access hospital in White Sulphur Springs, Mont., effective Dec. 8.  Billy Rogers studied finance in college and initially planned to work on the financial side of hospitals, with a…

As staff members from health systems across the country continue to tackle government regulations, emerging technology, and evolving patient expectations, Becker’s asked five strategic leaders in healthcare how they lead their teams in times of transformation and uncertainty. If you are a COO or strategic leader in healthcare and are…

Nearly 8 in 10 acute care nurses say they lose time each week to unproductive charting, and those facing the heaviest documentation burdens are significantly more likely to experience burnout and consider leaving their jobs, according to a Dec. 16 report from KLAS Research. The report, Reducing Nursing Documentation Burden…

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is mourning the death of its senior vice president and chief nurse executive Sammie Mosier, BSN, RN, whose nearly three-decade career at the system highlighted her commitment to supporting caregivers and advancing nursing.  “Her impact on HCA Healthcare and the nursing profession will endure,” the system…

Ultra high-cost drugs, or medications that cost more than $1 million per patient, can be life-altering treatments. They are also covered in an obsolete payment system, according to Mike Evans, RPh, chief pharmacy officer for Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger. “Every year, a higher and higher percentage of our total spend, from…

Detroit remains the neediest city in the U.S., largely because it has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 9.1%, according to a Dec. 15 analysis from personal finance website WalletHub. The city also ranked No. 1 in WalletHub’s 2025 list. To develop its “Neediest Cities in America (2026)”…

Concierge and direct primary care models are rapidly reshaping the U.S. primary care landscape. These membership-based practices, which charge monthly or annual fees for enhanced access and longer visits, have increased in recent years — often operating outside the traditional insurance system. A research article published in December in Health…

The American Hospital Association, American Nurses Association and dozens of other groups representing healthcare professionals are urging federal lawmakers to pass newly reintroduced legislation that would expand the nation’s nursing faculty workforce and modernize nursing education.  The Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act, reintroduced Dec. 11 by Sen. Jeff Merkley,…

More Americans than ever believe the U.S. healthcare system is in crisis, according to a Dec. 15 article from Gallup. The West Health-Gallup Health and Healthcare Survey was conducted Nov. 3-25 and included responses from 1,321 U.S. adults. Here are five things to know: 1. Twenty-three percent of respondents said…

The Leapfrog Group has published its annual list of top-performing hospitals, recognizing 151 hospitals in the U.S. for excellence in quality and safety in 2025.  Top hospitals are identified using data from the watchdog organization’s annual hospital survey, with selection based on excellence in various quality and patient safety measures,…

Hospitals nationwide are facing intensifying staffing pressures, rising patient acuity and growing demands for more sustainable care delivery. At Cleveland-based University Hospitals, a new virtual nursing initiative is offering an effective, systemwide solution. During an October webinar hosted by Becker’s Healthcare and Vitalchat, Brian Nelson, RN, program lead and Lauren…

Fitch Ratings has issued a ‘neutral’ outlook for the U.S. healthcare provider sector in 2026, pointing to stable credit trends, modest revenue growth, and potential margin pressure from rising labor costs and policy shifts. Here are five key takeaways from the report. 1. Hospital ratings stabilizing: Fitch Ratings assigned a…

Nearly one in three nonfederal acute care hospitals in the U.S. reported using generative artificial intelligence integrated into their electronic health record in 2024, according to a national survey analysis published Dec. 12 in JAMA Network Open. The findings are based on a survey of 2,174 nonfederal U.S. acute care…

Medscape has published a report on the best cities for young physicians to start their career, based on an analysis of factors ranging from compensation to local cultural life. The ranking, published Dec. 12, also took into account job opportunities, malpractice rates, professional development and outdoor recreation. Austin, Texas, topped…

The FDA is considering adding a black box warning to COVID-19 vaccines — the latest development in a broader shift in how the agency approaches vaccine oversight and safety communication, according to a Dec. 12 CNN report.  Here are seven things to know: 1. The proposal signals a more aggressive…

In the One Big Beautiful Bill era, capacity is more than a scheduling concern for hospitals and health systems — it’s a financial imperative. During a recent Becker’s Healthcare webinar hosted by LeanTaaS, executives from University Hospitals (Cleveland), Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.) and Scripps Health (San Diego) shared how their…