Ella Jeffries

Rural primary care practices deliver a broader range of services than their urban counterparts, even as workforce shortages and federal policy changes strain access and affordability. These findings were detailed in a Nov. 12 report from the Primary Care Collaborative. The group’s 2025 report found that rural areas have roughly…

The U.S. is home to nearly 400 health systems, with most hospitals now part of a larger network. The American Hospital Association’s latest data offers a snapshot of how the system landscape continues to evolve. Seven things to know: 1. There are 397 health systems in the U.S. These systems…

Innovation does not have to come with a hefty price tag, according to Thomas Jackiewicz, president of UChicago Medicine. New research on the 811-bed health system’s patient advocacy program, using six years of data, shows that minor and nonurgent emergency department visit rates decreased by 45% among patients who received…

Health systems are modernizing career advancement programs to build internal pipelines and keep nurses at the bedside. These programs are being updated to better recognize clinical expertise and support professional growth without requiring nurses to leave direct patient care. Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth, for example, launched a four-level clinical ladder…

AI is already transforming the healthcare workforce and the care they deliver, from automated coding to scribing — with many more advances coming soon. That was the message from Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable’s AI Summit, which took place Nov. 5 in Chicago. Here are 10 of the…

A certain level of competition is healthy in hospitals and health systems, as it can lead to improved outcomes, lower costs and spark innovation. But unchecked competition can cross a line, according to healthcare leaders. Becker’s connected with three executives about where that line is — and how organizations can…

Employment in the nation’s private sector climbed by 42,000 jobs in October, with 26,000 added in the education and health services sector, according to an ADP report released Nov. 5. The October national employment report, produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, examines anonymized weekly…

A new federal law set to take effect in 2027 is raising red flags for hospitals — particularly safety-net and rural providers — as it introduces sweeping changes to Medicaid eligibility. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law this summer, includes a nationwide Medicaid work requirement that mandates…

Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert to Reopen

Every state has submitted applications seeking a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, according to CMS.  Five things to know:  1. The program — enacted under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and expanded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — aims to improve access, care…

The healthcare industry is buzzing with the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). However, amid the hype, a major sticking point is often overlooked: the integrity of the data feeding these new technologies. In an industry where decisions directly impact lives, throwing data at a model…

As healthcare organizations navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny and mounting administrative burdens, Joint Commission is spearheading an evolution in accreditation and certification. At Becker’s 31st Annual Meeting The Business & Operations of ASCs, Ken Grubbs, DNP, RN, executive vice president, accreditation and certification operations, and chief nursing officer at Joint Commission,…

Annual median compensation for physician assistants and nurse practitioners varies across states, from a low of $117,499 for Alabama to as high as $195,603 in California, according to a survey conducted by consulting firm SullivanCotter. The “2025 Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Survey” draws data from 788 health systems,…

Health system leaders agree on one thing: technology won’t fix healthcare’s biggest problems on its own. Despite growing expectations that technology can solve the industry’s biggest problems, health IT leaders say the most persistent myth is that innovation alone can fix what’s broken. “The biggest myth is that technology alone…

Despite layoffs and a slowing job market, Generation Z employees are still prioritizing work-life balance, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 1. As organizations scale back on hiring or cut jobs, some are cautioning potential new hires about the long hours — and lack of boundaries — ahead, the Journal…

Bloomington, Ill.-based St. Joseph Medical Center has the lowest rate of complications during delivery of any hospital in the nation, CMS found. CMS’ Maternal Health-Hospital database collected data on measures such as exclusive breast feeding, serious birth complications, cesarean births, and participation in a state or national perinatal quality improvement…

Nearly three-quarters of healthcare organizations have experienced a moderate to severe financial impact from cyber vulnerabilities in the past two years, Ernst & Young and KLAS Research found. Here are the top cyberthreats healthcare organizations have faced in the last 12 months, according to the accounting firm and health IT…

West Virginia topped WalletHub’s 2025 ranking of the most overweight and obese states in the U.S., published Nov. 4, while Colorado is the healthiest-weight state. The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three dimensions: obesity and overweight, health consequences, and food and fitness.…

For the first time since 2020, quality of life emerged as the most influential factor in U.S. News & World Report‘s latest rankings of America’s best places to retire. U.S. News & World Report analyzed more than 850 of the nation’s most populated cities — up from 150 in previous…

Health systems might think they’re designing digital tools for Gen Z and millennials when, in fact, it’s their parents or grandparents who are more likely to use them. At least that’s been the case at Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System, where baby boomers are the most digitally engaged generation, with…

Hospitals and academic medical centers are posting a larger share of physician job postings, but financial uncertainty in the market could dampen their recruiting efforts, according to a recent report from AMN Healthcare, a recruiting firm.  Between April 2024 and March 2025, AMN Healthcare reviewed a representative sample of open…

Fifty-seven percent of healthcare workers feel in control of their careers, compared to 45% of U.S. workers across all industries, according to a recent LinkedIn News survey. LinkedIn surveyed 14,680 U.S. professionals between June 14 and Sept. 19. Employees in business development were most likely to feel in control, with…

Massachusetts is the best state to find a job and West Virginia is the worst, according to WalletHub’s 2025 ranking, published Oct. 29.   To determine the most attractive states for employment, the personal finance website compared states on two key dimensions: job market and economic environment. Analysts examined those dimensions…

When virtual nursing first gained traction during the pandemic, hospitals saw it as a lifeline — a way to maximize staff members time when stretched thin, keep patients connected and maintain safety during a crisis.  Three years later, the screens are still on. But the question facing health systems now…