# Staff Relief Inc


## Posts

- [Addressing Georgia’s Critical Nursing Shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/addressing-georgias-critical-nursing-shortage/): The nursing shortage in Georgia has reached critical levels in 2025, with nearly every county—urban and rural—struggling to recruit and retain qualified healthcare professionals.
- [10 Tips for Travel Nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/10-tips-for-travel-nurses/): Travel healthcare is more than just an assignment, it’s an opportunity to expand your skills, explore new places, and make an impact where it matters most.
- [KPMG’s 2017 U.S. Hospital Nursing: Labor Costs Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/kpmgs-2017-u-s-hospital-nursing-labor-costs-study/): This study identifies several trends and benchmarks in relation to hospital nursing labor costs in the United States.
- [Ex-flight attendant on her career change into nursing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/02/ex-flight-attendant-on-her-career-change-into-nursing/): A former flight attendant who fell into nursing due to an NHS hospitality scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic has reflected on her unusual path into the profession. The post Ex-flight attendant on her career change into nursing appeared first on Nursing Times.
- [2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/01/2025-nsi-national-health-care-retention-rn-staffing-report/): With people living longer, the subsequent rise in chronic conditions and the fact that all Baby Boomers will reach retirement age by 2030, recruiting and retaining quality staff will continue to be a top healthcare issue for years to come.
- [2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/09/2024-employer-health-benefits-survey/): Employer-sponsored insurance covers 154 million nonelderly people.
- [Hiring More Nurses Generates Revenue for Hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/09/hiring-nurses-generates-revenue-for-hospitals/): Underfunding is driving an acute shortage of trained nurses in hospitals and care facilities in the United States.
- [Georgia could see the largest shortage of RNs by 2036](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/08/georgia-could-see-the-largest-shortage-of-rns-by-2036/): Staffing is one of the biggest issues facing ASCs. A 2023 survey from ORManager found that in the last 12 months, 56% of ASCs reported an increase in volume.
- [Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/05/nursing-shortage-fact-sheet/): The U.S. is projected to experience a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows.
- [The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/04/cost-of-nurse-turnover-in-24-numbers/): The 2024 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report features input from 400 hospitals in 36 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment metrics and staffing strategies.
- [Travel Nurse Pay in Georgia: Everything You Need to Know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2024/03/travel-nurse-pay-in-georgia-everything-you-need-to-know/): Contract Nurse Pay in Georgia can vary quite a lot, but when you’re going into any job it’s important to know what kind of pay you can expect.
- [Costs and cost-effectiveness of improved nurse staffing levels and skill mix in acute hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2023/11/costs-and-cost-effectiveness-of-improved-nurse-staffing-levels-and-skill-mix-in-acute-hospital/): Extensive research shows associations between increased nurse staffing levels, skill mix and patient outcomes.
- [American Hospital Association Health Care Workforce Scan](https://staffreliefinc.com/2023/07/american-hospital-association-health-care-workforce-scan/): The pandemic exacerbated existing shortages of health care workers in all roles, from clinicians to environmental and food services to admissions and scheduling.
- [The Real Costs of Healthcare Staff Turnover](https://staffreliefinc.com/2023/03/the-real-costs-of-healthcare-staff-turnover/): Staffing tops the list of healthcare industry challenges heading into 2023, according to polling data from healthcare advocacy group MGMA.
- [The Relationship Between Nurse Staffing, Quality, And Financial Performance In Hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2020/08/relationship-between-nurse-staffing-quality-and-financial-performance-in-hospitals/): Little evidence exists the relationship of nurse staffing and quality with financial performance in hospitals.
- [Pros and Cons for Working for a Nurse Staffing Agency](https://staffreliefinc.com/2020/07/pros-and-cons-for-working-for-a-nurse-staffing-agency/): There’s no question that no matter what time you enter the job market, the call for nurses is always in high demand.
- [How to Choosing the Right Medical Staffing Agency](https://staffreliefinc.com/2020/06/how-to-choosing-the-right-medical-staffing-agency/): Choosing the right medical staffing agency isn’t just about finding a job—it’s about building a career with the support, transparency, and opportunities you deserve.
- [The Effects of Nurse Staffing on Hospital Financial Performance: Competitive Versus Less Competitive Markets](https://staffreliefinc.com/2015/08/effects-of-nurse-staffing-on-hospital-financial-performance-competitive-versus-less-competitive-markets/): Hospitals facing financial uncertainty have sought to reduce nurse staffing as a way to increase profitability.
- [Optimizing the Role of Nursing Staff to Enhance Physician Productivity: One Physician's Journey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2013/04/optimizing-the-role-of-nursing-staff-to-enhance-physician-productivity-one-physicians-journey/): After completing my family medicine residency a few years ago, I immediately joined a private group practice with eight family physicians and two nurse practitioners and inherited a nearly full patient panel from a retiring family physician.
- [10 Best Practices for Increasing Hospital Profitability](https://staffreliefinc.com/2009/06/10-best-practices-increasing-hospital-profitability/): Industry experts say that hospitals wishing to increase their profitability can focus on two key areas — reducing costs and increasing reimbursement.
- [Health systems face changing spine landscape](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/health-systems-face-changing-spine-landscape/): Many spine surgeons and patients have benefitted from outpatient migration when it comes to costs and outcomes, but the option for inpatient stays will always remain.
- [Robotic spine innovation reaches children](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/robotic-spine-innovation-reaches-children/): Spine robots have made significant advancements, and in recent months three hospitals began offering the technology for pediatric patients.
- [15 healthcare bankruptcies in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/15-healthcare-bankruptcies-in-2025/): Additionally, a shift in patient volumes and regulatory changes have further strained finances, forcing some hospitals to restructure or close.
- [308 hospitals, health systems named best-in-state employers: Forbes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/308-hospitals-health-systems-named-best-in-state-employers-forbes/): More than 300 hospitals and health systems were among the organizations recognized on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best-In-State Employers.
- [Financial sustainability ‘front and center’ at UNC Health Southeastern](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/financial-sustainability-front-and-center-at-unc-health-southeastern/): Lumberton, N.C.,-based UNC Health Southeastern is coming off one of its strongest financial years in recent history, solidly positioning the system to help to weather any potential setbacks from the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- [RSNA to honor 5 radiology leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/rsna-to-honor-5-radiology-leaders/): The Radiological Society of North America will recognize five radiology leaders from U.S. health systems during the organization’s annual meeting from Nov.
- [The 340B program, explained](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-340b-program-explained/): More than three decades ago, Congress created the 340B program to help safety-net hospitals and clinics​​ expand resources and care for underserved communities.
- [NYC Health + Hospitals saves $88M in nurse turnover costs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/nyc-health-hospitals-saves-88m-in-nurse-turnover-costs/): NYC Health + Hospitals said Aug.
- [The path to closing the Black maternal health gap: McKinsey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-path-to-closing-the-black-maternal-health-gap-mckinsey/): Increasing access and coverage for healthcare services for all women, with a specific focus on Black women, is crucial to closing racial disparities in maternal outcomes, according to a report from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility.
- [Breast cancer screening recall rates, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/breast-cancer-screening-recall-rates-by-state/): Hawaii, Idaho and Utah had the lowest breast cancer screening recall rates, an indicator of imaging efficiency, between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, according to CMS data published Aug.
- [Kaiser taps medical foundation CEO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/kaiser-taps-medical-foundation-ceo/): Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente has named Jeff Krawcek, MD, as executive vice president and CEO of the KP Medical Foundation, effective Sept.
- [Hospitals face a catch-22 amid nurse shortages](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospitals-face-a-catch-22-amid-nurse-shortages/): Hospitals have spent years working to ease nurse shortages; however, they are now facing a catch-22 in the nursing workforce.
- [The value of early intervention with Collagenase SANTYL Ointment ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-value-of-early-intervention-with-collagenase-santyl-ointment/): A large-scale, real-world analysis of 15,639 patients treated with Collagenase SANTYL◊ Ointment underscores the clinical and economic benefits of early enzymatic debridement in wound management.
- [US agrees to cap tariffs on European drug imports: 3 tariff updates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/us-agrees-to-cap-tariffs-on-european-drug-imports-3-tariff-updates/): The U.S. has reached an agreement with the European Union to cap levies on pharmaceutical exports to 15%, according to a joint statement released Aug.
- [Allegheny Health Network boosts operating margin to 4.5% in Q2 ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/allegheny-health-network-boosts-operating-margin-to-4-5-in-q2/): Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network recorded an operating income of $64 million (4.5% operating margin), up from an operating loss of $25.9 million (-2.1% margin) during the same period last year, according to its Aug.
- [29 hospitals with the lowest rates of unplanned visits after CABG](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/29-hospitals-with-the-lowest-rates-of-unplanned-visits-after-cabg/): Sarasota (Fla.)
- [Despite closures, independent pharmacies keep pace with new openings: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/despite-closures-independent-pharmacies-keep-pace-with-new-openings-study/): Independent pharmacies in the U.S.
- [AI reduces clinician burnout at Mass General Brigham, Emory: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/ai-reduces-clinician-burnout-at-mass-general-brigham-emory-study/): The use of ambient AI scribes led to a sharp drop in burnout and an increase in well-being among clinicians at Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham and Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare, a new study found.
- [Medicare Part D changes could lead to higher cost sharing: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/medicare-part-d-changes-could-lead-to-higher-cost-sharing-study/): A cross-sectional study found that while the Inflation Reduction Act capped out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries at $2,000 starting in 2025, many enrollees may still face higher cost-sharing due to changes in plan design.
- [Health systems report financial strain from EHR rollouts](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/health-systems-report-financial-strain-from-ehr-rollouts/): Hospitals and health systems are reporting financial losses tied to new EHR implementations.
- [600 CDC workers get permanent layoff notice ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/600-cdc-workers-get-permanent-layoff-notice/): Hundreds of CDC workers are receiving permanent layoff notices, according to an Aug.
- [New York Legionnaires’ outbreak tied to cooling towers serving hospital, other buildings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/new-york-legionnaires-outbreak-tied-to-cooling-towers-serving-hospital-other-buildings/): A law firm filed a lawsuit Aug.
- [CEO advocates for ‘civil obedience’ as Medicaid cuts loom](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/ceo-advocates-for-civil-obedience-as-medicaid-cuts-loom/): Westchester Medical Center Health Network in Valhalla, N.Y., is the state’s largest Medicaid provider north of New York City.
- [‘This isn’t just hype’: CIOs react to Epic’s latest AI moves](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/this-isnt-just-hype-cios-react-to-epics-latest-ai-moves/): Epic unveiled a flurry of new features at its annual Users Group Meeting this week. What do health system executives think?
- [Inside OSF HealthCare’s strategy to cut ER wait times](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/inside-osf-healthcares-strategy-to-cut-er-wait-times/): Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare is implementing virtual technology to reduce emergency department wait times at its St.
- [Urban hospitals increasingly poaching rural funds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/urban-hospitals-increasingly-poaching-rural-funds/): A regulatory loophole has allowed hundreds of large, urban hospitals to claim rural benefits, raising alarms from lawmakers and experts who warn that taxpayer dollars are being diverted from the very communities Congress intended to protect.
- [Texas Children’s hospital taps nurse practitioner as nurse executive](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/texas-childrens-hospital-taps-nurse-practitioner-as-nurse-executive/): Austin-based Texas Children’s Hospital named Jennifer Pugh, DNP, APRN, nurse executive of its North Austin campus.
- [Emory Healthcare faces lawsuit after layoffs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/emory-healthcare-faces-lawsuit-after-layoffs/): A former Emory Healthcare finance department employee filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the Atlanta-based system violated the federal WARN Act by laying off workers without the required 60 days’ notice.
- [How front-line teams are shaping health system strategy](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-front-line-teams-are-shaping-health-system-strategy/): CEOs are turning to front-line employees for insights shaping systemwide strategies.
- [The ‘1 thing’ that will consistently improve throughput, per Catholic Health’s quality chief](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-1-thing-that-will-consistently-improve-throughput-per-catholic-healths-quality-chief/): More hospitals and health systems should be focusing on developing evidence-based clinical pathways as part of broader efforts to free up capacity and improve operational efficiency, according to Chhavi Katyal, MD, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Catholic Health in Rockville Centre, N.Y.
- [Extreme weather disrupts pharmaceutical supply chain: 3 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/extreme-weather-disrupts-pharmaceutical-supply-chain-3-notes/): A study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that climate-related weather disasters are threatening the stability of the U.S.
- [Top 10 fastest-growing IT jobs in healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/top-10-fastest-growing-it-jobs-in-healthcare/): A national survey of 812 clinical and nonclinical staff positions across 20 job families identifies the top 10 fastest-growing IT roles in healthcare.
- [The substantial value in ‘multi-disciplined team,’ per 1 CFO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-substantial-value-in-multi-disciplined-team-per-1-cfo/): Hospital and health system CFOs continue to face mounting pressures, from ongoing workforce headwinds to sudden regulatory shifts.
- [U of Alabama at Birmingham opens $157M inpatient rehab facility](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/u-of-alabama-at-birmingham-opens-157m-inpatient-rehab-facility/): The University of Alabama at Birmingham has opened a $157 million inpatient rehabilitation pavilion.
- [Blood test detects throat cancer with 99% accuracy: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/blood-test-detects-throat-cancer-with-99-accuracy-what-to-know/): A blood test developed by Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham researchers can accurately identify HPV-associated throat cancers, according to a study published Aug.
- [98% of small medical practices wrongly claim HIPAA compliance: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/98-of-small-medical-practices-wrongly-claim-hipaa-compliance-survey/): Nearly all small healthcare practices are exposing themselves to cyberattacks and federal compliance violations, according to a recent survey conducted by Paubox.
- [Federal grant expands telehealth in Texas, Louisiana](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/federal-grant-expands-telehealth-in-texas-louisiana/): Lubbock, Texas-based Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center received a $1.3 million, four-year grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration, an agency of HSS, to expand telehealth services in Texas and Louisiana.
- [UChicago Medicine debuts cancer network, AdventHealth hospital tapped as 1st affiliate](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/uchicago-medicine-debuts-cancer-network-adventhealth-hospital-tapped-as-1st-affiliate/): The University of Chicago Medicine has launched a national cancer network, and has selected AdventHealth Cancer Institute Shawnee Mission in Merriam, Kan., as its first affiliate.
- [Why a ‘two-tier Medicare system’ may be on the horizon](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/why-a-two-tier-medicare-system-may-be-on-the-horizon/): Physicians treating Medicare patients have seen their real income drop by more than 33% since 2016, fueled by stagnant reimbursement, growing Medicare Advantage enrollment and surging operating costs, according to a report published Aug.
- [28 statistics on hospital financials by state: Moody’s](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/28-statistics-on-hospital-financials-by-state-moodys/): Hospitals nationwide are showing signs of stronger financial footing, though the pace of recovery varies by region, according to a report from Moody’s.
- [3 Florida health systems invest in nurse training facility](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/3-florida-health-systems-invest-in-nurse-training-facility/): Orlando-based University of Central Florida opened a new nurse training facility, made possible in part by financial support from three Florida health systems.
- [Unemployment among new workers reaches 37-year high](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/unemployment-among-new-workers-reaches-37-year-high/): The share of unemployed Americans with no prior work experience reached 13.4% in July — its highest level since April 1988, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [North Carolina to cut Medicaid provider reimbursement rates by 3%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/north-carolina-to-cut-medicaid-provider-reimbursement-rates-by-3/): North Carolina Medicaid providers will see at least a 3% cut in reimbursement rates beginning Oct.
- [How the ‘most beautiful hospitals’ are rethinking patient flow](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-the-most-beautiful-hospitals-are-rethinking-patient-flow/): Twenty hospitals were named to healthcare staffing firm Soliant’s 2025 Most Beautiful Hospitals list, which recognizes both architectural beauty and quality of care.
- [Avera to expand virtual nursing across rural sites](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/avera-to-expand-virtual-nursing-across-rural-sites/): Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera will use $1 million in federal funding to expand its virtual nursing program.
- [RN median hourly pay, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/rn-median-hourly-pay-by-state/): The survey, released in July, covers nearly 2.5 million healthcare employees across over 2,660 participating organizations, including more than 800,000 individual RNs, licensed practical nurses and nursing managers.
- [$50B rural health fund not a cure-all for hospitals: Bloomberg](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/50b-rural-health-fund-not-a-cure-all-for-hospitals-bloomberg/): The $50 billion rural hospital transformation program that is part of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act might aim to support rural healthcare, but an Aug.
- [Tech giants accelerate push into healthcare with AI](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/tech-giants-accelerate-push-into-healthcare-with-ai/): Tech companies are accelerating their push into healthcare, unveiling new AI tools aimed at everything from documenting patient visits to supporting medical care in space.
- [Pediatrics group breaks with CDC on COVID vaccine guidance](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/pediatrics-group-breaks-with-cdc-on-covid-vaccine-guidance/): In a departure from the CDC’s recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics said all children between 6 months and 2 years old should receive a COVID-19 vaccine for the 2025-26 virus season.
- [21 health systems with boosted outlooks](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/21-health-systems-with-boosted-outlooks/): Here are 21 health systems that recently had their outlooks upgraded by Fitch Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service in 2025.
- [From integration to payer interactions: How leaders are shaping AI’s role in RCM](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/from-integration-to-payer-interactions-how-leaders-are-shaping-ais-role-in-rcm/): AI has been firmly integrated into revenue cycle management (RCM) as organizations look to boost efficiency, enhance patient experience and prepare for a rapidly evolving future.
- [The next ‘major workforce crisis’ systems are tackling](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-next-major-workforce-crisis-systems-are-tackling/): Health systems are taking on what one leader has called the “next major workforce crisis”: a shortage of nurse educators.
- [How health systems are bracing for tariffs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-health-systems-are-bracing-for-tariffs/): As the Trump administration moves forward with sweeping tariffs aimed at increasing U.S.
- [Progress amid uncertainty: A mid-year update on 2025 healthcare finance trends.](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/progress-amid-uncertainty-a-mid-year-update-on-2025-healthcare-finance-trends/): For a more in-depth analysis of trends shaping the industry in the second half of 2025, find our full trends report here.
- [Doing More with Less: How AI Can Help Healthcare Providers Weather the Big Beautiful Bill](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/doing-more-with-less-how-ai-can-help-healthcare-providers-weather-the-big-beautiful-bill/): The healthcare industry is no stranger to change, but the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) — nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill” — may represent one of the most significant shifts in years.
- [Ascension’s strategy lifts net promoter score above 80](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/ascensions-strategy-lifts-net-promoter-score-above-80/): By rethinking consumer experience, Ascension said it has driven its net promoter score, a critical metric in measuring customer satisfaction, above 80 and cut complaints by 40%.
- [Care New England hospital workers reach tentative agreement after 3-month strike](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/care-new-england-hospital-workers-reach-tentative-agreement-after-3-month-strike/): Members of SEIU 1199NE have reached a tentative labor contract with Care New England’s Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I.
- [From automation to re-skilling: 4 AI priorities for healthcare leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/from-automation-to-re-skilling-4-ai-priorities-for-healthcare-leaders/): AI is no longer an abstract concept for healthcare; it’s delivering measurable operational and clinical gains.
- [Trump revokes executive order on competition: 5 things for hospital leaders to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/trump-revokes-executive-order-on-competition-5-things-for-hospital-leaders-to-know/): President Donald Trump on Aug.
- [Novant offers debt-free pre-paid tuition to 41,000 employees ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/novant-offers-debt-free-pre-paid-tuition-to-41000-employees/): Novant Health Future Forward, a new debt-free education initiative, is now available to eligible team members at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health.
- [Outpatient chemotherapy admission rates of 11 cancer hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/outpatient-chemotherapy-admission-rates-of-11-cancer-hospitals/): Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute had the lowest admission rate for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy of all prospective payment system-exempt cancer hospitals between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
- [1 in 10 children’s ED visits for mental health lead to boarding: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/1-in-10-childrens-ed-visits-for-mental-health-lead-to-boarding-study/): More than 10% of pediatric visits to the emergency department for mental health conditions result in ED boarding, according to research published Aug.
- [State of recruitment, compensation in oncology: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/state-of-recruitment-compensation-in-oncology-4-notes/): Hematologists and oncologists are the most in-demand physicians, according to an AMN Healthcare report, “2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives,” published Aug.
- [FDA approves Wegovy to treat liver disease](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/fda-approves-wegovy-to-treat-liver-disease/): The FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy to treat metabolic associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, in adults who have excessive scar tissue in the liver.
- [CBO report warns of nearly $500B in potential Medicare cuts](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/cbo-report-warns-of-nearly-500b-in-potential-medicare-cuts/): Medicare and other federal programs could see deep cuts under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed on July 4, according to an Aug.
- [Cybersecurity law’s expiration could harm hospitals: Former FBI leader](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/cybersecurity-laws-expiration-could-harm-hospitals-former-fbi-leader/): The expiration of a 2015 federal cybersecurity law could put hospitals and health systems at risk for more cyberattacks, a former FBI leader wrote in Fortune.
- [Capital spending gap widens between large, small hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/capital-spending-gap-widens-between-large-small-hospitals/): Large hospitals spent more on capital projects last year to stay competitive while small hospitals tightened their budgets, according to Moody’s.
- [Federal plan targets real-world data for health research: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/federal-plan-targets-real-world-data-for-health-research-report/): The federal government is looking to expand the use of real-world data in health research and regulation, according to a draft strategy report obtained by Politico.
- [7 drugs in shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/7-drugs-in-shortage/): Here are seven new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
- [CommonSpirit names regional president](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/commonspirit-names-regional-president/): Matt Brown was appointed president of CommonSpirit Health’s south region, according to an Aug. 15 news release shared with Becker’s.
- [Eli Lilly pushes back on proposed tariffs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/eli-lilly-pushes-back-on-proposed-tariffs/): Eli Lilly recently spoke out against proposed tariffs on pharmaceuticals, warning they could increase drug costs and restrict patient access.
- [Michigan hospital RNs, techs to hold ‘practice strike’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/michigan-hospital-rns-techs-to-hold-practice-strike/): Members of the Michigan Nurses Association at UP Health System-Marquette plan to hold a “practice strike” Aug.
- [HealthPartners expands digital hub to all adult patients](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/healthpartners-expands-digital-hub-to-all-adult-patients/): When Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners launched its My dashboard interface in 2021, it was not available to everyone.
- [How to launch a central pharmacy](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-to-launch-a-central-pharmacy/): Health systems interested in building a central pharmacy should prioritize personalization and preparation, according to Melanie Massiah-White, vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Fairfax, Va.-based Inova Health System.
- [18 maternity service closures in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/18-maternity-service-closures-in-2025/): A Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform report found that less than 42% of U.S. rural hospitals still offer labor and delivery services.
- [‘Your investment is literally washed away’: Why CIOs stick with the EHR-first strategy](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/your-investment-is-literally-washed-away-why-cios-stick-with-the-ehr-first-strategy/): A few weeks ago, CIO of Richmond, Ind.-based Reid Health Muhammad Siddique was doing a round of the ED department when he ran into one of his physician colleagues.
- [Signature Healthcare to reduce workforce by 3.8%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/signature-healthcare-to-reduce-workforce-by-3-8/): Brockton, Mass.-based Signature Healthcare will reduce workforce by 3.8% at its Brockton Hospital and Signature Medical Group due to ongoing financial challenges.
- [Semaglutide may reduce muscle size, strength: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/semaglutide-may-reduce-muscle-size-strength-study/): As semaglutide sees a surge in use, new research raises questions about the medication’s effects on muscle health.
- [48 health systems call for telehealth expansion](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/48-health-systems-call-for-telehealth-expansion/): Several dozen healthcare organizations, including 48 health systems, have written a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to extend telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries.
- [Hospitals brace for more high-risk pregnancies](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospitals-brace-for-more-high-risk-pregnancies/): Hospitals and health systems are preparing for a rise in high-risk pregnancies, even as many labor and delivery units shut down.
- [‘The status quo is not sustainable’: ACA subsidy expiration would buckle EDs, limit access for all](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-status-quo-is-not-sustainable-aca-subsidy-expiration-would-buckle-eds-limit-access-for-all/): The potential expiration of the ACA premium tax credits at the end of 2025 could lead to a significant increase in emergency department visits, exacerbate provider burnout and drive up healthcare costs for everyone — not just those who would lose coverage.
- [CHS shed 39 hospitals since 2020](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/chs-shed-39-hospitals-since-2020/): Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems signed a letter of intent Aug.
- [HHS revives childhood vaccine task force: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hhs-revives-childhood-vaccine-task-force-6-notes/): HHS has reinstated the Safer Childhood Vaccines task force, the agency said in an Aug. 14 news release.
- [65 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/65-hospitals-health-systems-cutting-jobs/): A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces or jobs amid financial and operational challenges.
- [Minimally invasive spine in 2028: 5 predictions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/minimally-invasive-spine-in-2028-5-predictions/): Minimally invasive spine techniques have been the focus of recent medtech innovations, and more growth is expected in the motion preservation aspects.
- [Sutter Health doubles early-stage lung cancer diagnoses: 5 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/sutter-health-doubles-early-stage-lung-cancer-diagnoses-5-things-to-know/): Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health doubled its rate of early-stage lung cancer diagnoses after implementing an AI-powered tracking tool within its Epic EHR. The tool has led to more than 70% of all lung cancer diagnoses to occur during stage 1 or stage 2, according to a July 21 news release from the American Medical Association. […] The post Sutter Health doubles early-stage lung cancer diagnoses: 5 things to know appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [CentraCare to lay off 535 workers, 30% in patient care roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/centracare-to-lay-off-535-workers-30-in-patient-care-roles/): St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare is laying off 535 employees across the health system in response to “significant external pressures” including rising costs and reimbursements rates “that no longer cover the true cost of care,” a spokesperson for the health system said in a statement shared with Becker’s. The layoffs affect 44 locations and represent nearly […] The post CentraCare to lay off 535 workers, 30% in patient care roles appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [6 ways to drive more equitable care, per nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/6-ways-to-drive-more-equitable-care-per-nurses/): When surveyed, nurses consistently identified six areas where hospitals could improve equitable patient care quality for disadvantaged patients. The study, conducted between April and June 2021 by Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania and published in JAMA Network Open, used the RN4CAST-NY/IL survey, which included responses from 1,084 registered nurses who worked in 58 New York and […] The post 6 ways to drive more equitable care, per nurses appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [OpenAI to lead $250M investment in competitor to Elon Musk’s Neuralink: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/openai-to-lead-250m-investment-in-competitor-to-elon-musks-neuralink-report/): OpenAI plans to back a competitor to Elon Musk’s Neuralink in the brain-computer interface market, the Financial Times reported. Merge Labs aims to raise $250 million for a valuation of $850 million, with much of the funding coming from the maker of ChatGPT, sources told the news outlet. OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman would reportedly co-found […] The post OpenAI to lead $250M investment in competitor to Elon Musk’s Neuralink: Report appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [States with the most, fewest licensed nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/states-with-the-most-fewest-licensed-nurses/): The National Council of State Boards of Nursing found Washington, D.C., has the most licensed nurses per capita, while Utah is the state with the fewest. The organization created a comprehensive course of nursing licensure statistics in the U.S. and its territories. The data was compiled using the NCSBN’s database and Nursys, an electronic information […] The post States with the most, fewest licensed nurses appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [Kindred Hospitals’ Complex Wound Care Can Reduce Readmissions and Length of Stay](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/kindred-hospitals-complex-wound-care-can-reduce-readmissions-and-length-of-stay/): The Complex Wound Challenge Complex wounds represent a growing challenge to the healthcare community. As patients age and develop an increasing number of comorbidities, including diabetes and obesity, they are more prone to developing wounds and to experiencing longer, more complex recoveries.1 Chronic wound patients also often experience psychological side effects such as loneliness and depression, which […] The post Kindred Hospitals’ Complex Wound Care Can Reduce Readmissions and Length of Stay appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [What separates high- and low-performing hospitals in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/what-separates-high-and-low-performing-hospitals-in-2025/): Hospital finances showed signs of improvement at the end of the second quarter, though notable performance gaps remain between higher- and lower-performing facilities, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest “National Hospital Flash Report,” published Aug. 11. The median monthly operating margin index rose to 3.7% in June, up from 1.9% in May, though the pace of […] The post What separates high- and low-performing hospitals in 2025 appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [The Cost of Nurse Turnover: A Breakdown](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/the-cost-of-nurse-turnover-a-breakdown/): Poor nurse retention is a major issue for healthcare facilities, with the national registered nurse (RN) turnover rate standing at nearly 20%.
- [What to Expect When Working for a Nurse Staffing Agency](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/what-to-expect-when-working-for-a-nurse-staffing-agency/): Starting a new nursing job in metro Atlanta—or anywhere in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida or beyond —can feel overwhelming, even when you know it’s the right move.
- [Travel Nurse Pay in Georgia - Updated](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/travel-nurse-pay-in-georgia-updated/): Working as a contract nurse or per diem nurse in Georgia opens doors to flexibility, premium pay rates, and the chance to grow your experience across different healthcare settings.
- [The Ultimate Guide to Per Diem and Travel Nursing Jobs in the Southeast](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/the-ultimate-guide-to-per-diem-and-travel-nursing-jobs-in-the-southeast/): If you’re an RN exploring your next career move, you’re not alone.
- [Pros and Cons for Working for a Nurse Staffing Agency](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/pros-and-cons-for-working-for-a-nurse-staffing-agency-2/): In today’s fast-changing healthcare landscape, more nurses are exploring flexible career paths, including per diem nursing jobs, travel nursing contracts, and remote RN positions.
- [How to Get a High Paying Contract Nursing Job](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/how-to-get-a-high-paying-contract-nursing-job/): Contract nursing offers the chance to do meaningful work, gain diverse experience, and earn competitive pay.
- [How to Find the Best Nursing and Allied Health Jobs in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/how-to-find-the-best-nursing-and-allied-health-jobs-in-2025/): If you’re thinking about a career change this year, you’re not alone.
- [Everything You Need to Know About Travel Nurse Credentialing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/07/everything-you-need-to-know-about-travel-nurse-credentialing/): Every hospital, clinic, and long-term care facility has its own standards for verifying a clinician’s qualifications and readiness to practice.
- [10 hospitals closing departments or ending services](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/10-hospitals-closing-departments-or-ending-services/): A number of healthcare organizations have recently closed medical departments or ended services at facilities to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or address staffing shortages.
- [The nonclinical workforce shortages looming in healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-nonclinical-workforce-shortages-looming-in-healthcare/): As the U.S. faces ongoing shortages of skilled tradespeople, hospitals and health systems are preparing for those gaps to affect their own operations.
- [Vanderbilt taps chief supply chain officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/vanderbilt-taps-chief-supply-chain-officer/): Vanderbilt University Medical Center has named Yolanda Redmond chief supply chain officer.
- [Drugmaker recalls muscle relaxant over labeling error](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/drugmaker-recalls-muscle-relaxant-over-labeling-error/): Unichem pharmaceuticals issued a nationwide recall of one lot of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablets after finding that bottles labeled as the muscle relaxant actually contained meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
- [CMS launches ‘chili cook-off’ AI competition to tackle Medicare fraud ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/cms-launches-chili-cook-off-ai-competition-to-tackle-medicare-fraud/): CMS has rolled out the “Crushing Fraud Chili Cook‑Off Competition,” a market-based research challenge seeking explainable AI and machine learning to detect Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.
- [Hospital CEO exits climb 15% year over year: 4 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospital-ceo-exits-climb-15-year-over-year-4-things-to-know/): Hospitals reported 78 CEO exits through July 2025 — a 15% increase from 68 recorded during the same period in 2024.
- [‘Healthcare is a team sport’: GW Hospital CEO shares strategy for DC market](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/healthcare-is-a-team-sport-gw-hospital-ceo-shares-strategy-for-dc-market/): Jason Barrett began serving as CEO of The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Aug.
- [Nebraska hospital CEO returns to former CFO position](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/nebraska-hospital-ceo-returns-to-former-cfo-position/): Imperial, Neb.-based Chase County Community Hospital & Clinics CEO Abby Cyboron is exiting her role after five years to return to her previous role as the facility’s CFO, according to an Aug.
- [Intermountain Health taps chief supply chain officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/intermountain-health-taps-chief-supply-chain-officer/): Supply chain leader Jeromie Atkinson is returning to Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health as the system’s chief supply chain officer, according to an Aug.
- [Cone Health quality chief heads to AdventHealth ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/cone-health-quality-chief-heads-to-adventhealth/): Carolyn Harraway-Smith, MD, has joined Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth as chief medical officer of its Daytona Beach hospital.
- [Women-held roles driving majority of healthcare job growth](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/women-held-roles-driving-majority-of-healthcare-job-growth/): Nearly 75% of the 1.8 million jobs added in healthcare and social assistance over the past two years were women-held roles, according to an Aug.
- [What’s changing in hospital workforce strategy? 4 leaders weigh in](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/whats-changing-in-hospital-workforce-strategy-4-leaders-weigh-in/): Hospitals and health systems are rethinking workforce strategies amid financial pressures and evolving employee needs.
- [4 nurse innovation projects inspired by front-line staff](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/4-nurse-innovation-projects-inspired-by-front-line-staff/): AARP and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses awarded grants to 20 hospitals to expand or launch nurse innovation programs.
- [New Hampshire health system names marketing chief](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/new-hampshire-health-system-names-marketing-chief/): Charlotte Brown-Zalewa has been named vice president of marketing and communications at Manchester, N.H.-based Elliot Health System.
- [Partial heart transplants: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/partial-heart-transplants-what-to-know/): Fewer than 50 people have undergone partial heart transplants, but the procedure is emerging as a potential solution to the increase in discarded organs and growing transplant waiting list, according to an Aug.
- [AdventHealth opens $150M heart hospital in Denver](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/adventhealth-opens-150m-heart-hospital-in-denver/): Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth has opened the AdventHealth Heart & Vascular Institute on its Littleton, Colo., campus.
- [Steward ordered to pay nearly $1B in Utah malpractice case](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/steward-ordered-to-pay-nearly-1b-in-utah-malpractice-case/): Utah Third District Court Judge Patrick Corum has ordered Dallas-based Steward Health Care to pay $951 million to a family after finding the health system liable for medical malpractice for birth injuries sustained during the 2019 delivery of a child at its former West Valley City, Utah-based Jordan Valley Medical Center, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Aug.
- [Healthcare groups denounce limited COVID shot approvals ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/healthcare-groups-denounce-limited-covid-shot-approvals/): Healthcare groups are condemning the FDA’s decision to issue narrow approvals for COVID-19 vaccines, saying the move will limit access for millions of Americans and raise the risk of severe outcomes ahead of respiratory virus season.
- [Hospital group rebukes 340B rebate pilot program](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospital-group-rebukes-340b-rebate-pilot-program/): The American Hospital Association sharply criticized a 340B rebate model pilot program from the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of HSS, warning the model threatens to undermine three decades of success under the existing 340B drug pricing program.
- [Hospital indirect expenses mount: 20 statistics by department](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospital-indirect-expenses-mount-20-statistics-by-department/): Purchased services spending has increased across all departments in recent years and health systems are taking a closer look at the data to identify trends and opportunities to improve vendor contract management.
- [5 factors driving readmissions to different hospitals: Vizient](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/5-factors-driving-readmissions-to-different-hospitals-vizient/): Nearly one-third of readmissions occur at a different hospital than the original site of care, which limits a hospital’s visibility after a patient’s discharge and increases costs, according to an August report from Vizient.
- [Children’s Hospital Los Angeles workforce reductions to affect 439 roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/childrens-hospital-los-angeles-workforce-reductions-to-affect-439-roles/): Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shared plans Aug. 27 to reduce its workforce as part of a strategic realignment.
- [11 health systems naming chief revenue officers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/11-health-systems-naming-chief-revenue-officers/): The post 11 health systems naming chief revenue officers appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [Inova builds out cardiology leadership with $75M gift](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/inova-builds-out-cardiology-leadership-with-75m-gift/): Fairfax, Va.-based Inova Health System has established five chair positions within the Inova Schar Heart and Vascular program.
- [12 recent hospital, health system COO moves](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/12-recent-hospital-health-system-coo-moves/): Becker’s has reported on the following hospital and health system COO moves since March 11, including individuals who joined new organizations and those promoted to new roles.
- [Mercy hospital COO heads to Community Health Systems](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/mercy-hospital-coo-heads-to-community-health-systems/): Tyler Hillis has been named COO of Foley, Ala.-based Baldwin Health, part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
- [Health system monthly IT spend up 8% on average](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/health-system-monthly-it-spend-up-8-on-average/): Health systems have been increasing IT spend over the last few years to unify EHRs, add artificial intelligence functionality and improve infrastructure and data management in preparation for future growth.
- [Columbia pushes for a nurse specialty to be recognized](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/columbia-pushes-for-a-nurse-specialty-to-be-recognized/): Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health is calling for public health nurses to receive formal recognition as a distinct occupation from registered nurses.
- [Walgreens names pharma vet CEO as it goes private](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/walgreens-names-pharma-vet-ceo-as-it-goes-private/): Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen has appointed Mike Motz as CEO, effective Aug. 28, as the company transitions into a private standalone organization.
- [5 recent hospital, health system CEO exits](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/5-recent-hospital-health-system-ceo-exits/): The following hospital and health system CEO departures, including retirements and leadership transitions, have been recently reported by Becker’s.
- [FDA approves new COVID shots with restrictions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/fda-approves-new-covid-shots-with-restrictions/): The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older along with individuals ages 5-64 who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
- [More Medicare patients leaving hospitals against medical advice](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/more-medicare-patients-leaving-hospitals-against-medical-advice/): The rate of Medicare enrollees leaving acute care hospitals against medical advice increased 46% between 2006 and 2023, from 0.68% to 0.99% of discharges, according to a report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General.
- [Critically injured patients often not transferred: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/critically-injured-patients-often-not-transferred-study/): A study led by Salt Lake City-based University of Utah analyzed nearly 150,000 hospitalized patients with critical injuries and found that a majority of these patients are not transferred to an appropriate site of care.
- [The only 46 hospitals to earn Magnet’s top honor](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-only-46-hospitals-to-earn-magnets-top-honor/): In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world’s highest performing Magnet organizations.
- [Uncertainty on COVID vaccine access looms ahead of virus season](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/uncertainty-on-covid-vaccine-access-looms-ahead-of-virus-season/): Normally by this time of year as fall approaches, the FDA has approved new formulas for COVID-19 shots and CDC recommendations on who should receive them have been finalized.
- [The hidden cost of compliance: Why outdated IFUs are costing hospitals millions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-hidden-cost-of-compliance-why-outdated-ifus-are-costing-hospitals-millions/): Ambiguity around medical equipment cleaning and handling is more than a compliance issue. It slows care, drives up costs and undermines staff confidence.
- [Why rehab hospitals are a ‘safety valve’ for the capacity crisis](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/why-rehab-hospitals-are-a-safety-valve-for-the-capacity-crisis/): White Plains, N.Y.-based Burke Rehabilitation Hospital recently earned a spot on U.S.
- [Six Questions Every CFO Should Ask About AI](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/six-questions-every-cfo-should-ask-about-ai/): The AI wave in healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) shows no signs of slowing down.
- [Medical school admissions flunk diversity after Supreme Court ruling](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/medical-school-admissions-flunk-diversity-after-supreme-court-ruling/): After the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that affirmative actions were unconstitutional, racial and ethnic diversity declined in medical school admissions and matriculations, according to research published Aug.
- [My Descent into Crisis –And What it Showed Me About How We Must Change Care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/my-descent-into-crisis-and-what-it-showed-me-about-how-we-must-change-care/): Like you, I built my career in healthcare.
- [5 drugs in shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/5-drugs-in-shortage/): Here are five new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
- [Where cancer care fits into Endeavor Health’s $181M expansion plan](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/where-cancer-care-fits-into-endeavor-healths-181m-expansion-plan/): Evanston, Ill.-based Endeavor Health is in the midst of executing a $181 million expansion plan.
- [Why this system is investing in a ‘loss-leading’ service many hospitals are abandoning](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/why-this-system-is-investing-in-a-loss-leading-service-many-hospitals-are-abandoning/): Since joining North Kansas City, Mo.-based NKC Health in 2021, Senior Vice President and CFO Austin Jones has steered the organization through a 40% growth in net patient service revenue and he’s not afraid to invest in areas many hospitals are abandoning.
- [Wisconsin hospital to end inpatient psychiatric care ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/wisconsin-hospital-to-end-inpatient-psychiatric-care/): Aurora Medical Center-Sheboygan County in Wisconsin plans to stop offering inpatient psychiatric care and convert those beds to medical and surgical beds beginning Sept.
- [California hospital closure to cut 225 jobs, including top execs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/california-hospital-closure-to-cut-225-jobs-including-top-execs/): Willows, Calif.-based Glenn Medical Center filed an Aug.
- [HHS, education department push medical schools to revamp nutrition education](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hhs-education-department-push-medical-schools-to-revamp-nutrition-education/): HHS and the Department of Education have called for immediate reforms to how nutrition education and training are implemented in U.S.
- [The area healthcare has been slow to address, per Nationwide Children’s CEO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-area-healthcare-has-been-slow-to-address-per-nationwide-childrens-ceo/): The healthcare industry is not taking action with respect to population and behavioral health at the level it should, according to Tim Robinson, CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
- [GLP-1s and cancer: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/glp-1s-and-cancer-what-to-know/): As researchers study the efficacy of GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro in treating dementia and other health issues with an eye toward expanding their usage, oncologists are looking at a GLP-1 role in cancer care.
- [HCA’s ‘smoke detector for sepsis’ tool](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hcas-smoke-detector-for-sepsis-tool/): Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based HCA Healthcare’s Los Robles Health System has created a tool that acts as a “smoke detector for sepsis,” according to an Aug.
- [The Growing Strain on Community Health Systems— And Why Data May Be the Key to Revenue Relief](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-growing-strain-on-community-health-systems-and-why-data-may-be-the-key-to-revenue-relief/): Unprecedented pressure has been placed on rural and community-based hospitals following the passage of the federal reconciliation package (originally H.R.
- [Will health system hiring slow in 2025?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/will-health-system-hiring-slow-in-2025/): One in 5 chief human resources officers across industries expect hiring to slow in the next six months.
- [Michigan hospital nurses reach tentative agreement after ‘practice strike’ ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/michigan-hospital-nurses-reach-tentative-agreement-after-practice-strike/): Nurses at UP Health System-Marquette, who are represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, have reached a tentative labor contract on Aug.
- [How health systems are managing supply costs while building resilience](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-health-systems-are-managing-supply-costs-while-building-resilience/): As supply costs rise and disruptions persist, health systems are finding new ways to balance cost while building more reliable supply chains.
- [Hospitals invest in AI despite doubts about readiness: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospitals-invest-in-ai-despite-doubts-about-readiness-report/): A majority of hospital and health system executives believe AI could improve clinical decision-making and cut costs, but few say they are ready to integrate the technology into day-to-day care, an Aug.
- [AdventHealth names 2 Florida hospital CEOs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/adventhealth-names-2-florida-hospital-ceos/): Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth has appointed CEOs for two Florida campuses.
- [Healthcare’s tech that needs to improve fastest from 50 leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/healthcares-tech-that-needs-to-improve-fastest-from-50-leaders/): Emerging technologies have improved efficiency at most health systems. As these tools advance, operations are expected to run even more smoothly.
- [Google launches LLM evaluation tool for health data](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/google-launches-llm-evaluation-tool-for-health-data/): Google has developed a new evaluation framework to help health systems assess large language models more efficiently and reliably.
- [Illinois to require hospitals tell parents about early intervention](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/illinois-to-require-hospitals-tell-parents-about-early-intervention/): A disparity in access to information about early intervention services is getting an overhaul in Illinois with the amendment of the state’s Hospital Licensing Act.
- [22 hospitals with the lowest heart failure readmission rates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/22-hospitals-with-the-lowest-heart-failure-readmission-rates/): Boise, Idaho-based St.
- [Eli Lilly oral GLP-1 cuts body weight by 10%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/eli-lilly-oral-glp-1-cuts-body-weight-by-10/): Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1, orforglipron, led to significant weight loss and blood sugar reductions in a late-stage clinical trial.
- [New Hampshire system names new chief people officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/new-hampshire-system-names-new-chief-people-officer/): Shannon Levesque has been named Nashua, N.H.-based Southern New Hampshire Health’s first chief people officer.
- [UT Medical Center expands partnership with college of nursing ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/ut-medical-center-expands-partnership-with-college-of-nursing/): UT Medical Center has expanded its longstanding partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Nursing by investing in a new facility and additional scholarships for students.
- [3 new drugs to watch: Optum](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/3-new-drugs-to-watch-optum/): Brensocatib: An oral treatment for noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis which gained FDA approval Aug.
- [How Optum’s AI tool helped boost OR use by 7%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-optums-ai-tool-helped-boost-or-use-by-7/): More than half of health systems are understaffed in surgical departments, and about 60% of operations start later than scheduled, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- [Health systems lean into outsourcing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/health-systems-lean-into-outsourcing/): Health systems are increasingly turning to outsourcing as a strategy to address operational inefficiencies and financial pressures.
- [A new benchmark for hospital quality: 5 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/a-new-benchmark-for-hospital-quality-5-study-notes/): The rate of older adult patients discharged to post-acute care facilities following a major surgery can be used as a benchmark for hospital quality, according to a study published Aug.
- [Trinity Health Michigan taps chief nurse](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/trinity-health-michigan-taps-chief-nurse/): Trinity Health Michigan has appointed Michelle Peña, MSN, RN, regional chief nursing officer.
- [1st human case of screwworm parasite found in US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/1st-human-case-of-screwworm-parasite-found-in-us/): The first human case of a flesh-eating parasite has been detected in the U.S., NBC News reported Aug.
- [With Chart Chat, Ambience aims to unlock AI ‘magic’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/with-chart-chat-ambience-aims-to-unlock-ai-magic/): While paper documentation still lingers in certain areas of health system operations, today’s physicians are largely spared from the manual record retrieval and clunky metal filing cabinets that were commonplace before the rise of the EHR.
- [MetroHealth to close 6 outpatient locations as part of stabilization plan](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/metrohealth-to-close-6-outpatient-locations-as-part-of-stabilization-plan/): MetroHealth plans to close six outpatient offices in October to improve operational efficiency and stabilize its finances.
- [Trump’s rollback of Biden competition order stirs CEO debate](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/trumps-rollback-of-biden-competition-order-stirs-ceo-debate/): The healthcare industry is once again recalibrating after President Donald Trump revoked a Biden-era executive order aimed at limiting hospital consolidation.
- [The adaptive ‘muscle’ CHROs are working to build](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-adaptive-muscle-chros-are-working-to-build/): Workforce planning is more complex for healthcare chief human resources officers as the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act come into focus and AI adoption accelerates.
- [Most US generics made abroad, data shows: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/most-us-generics-made-abroad-data-shows-4-notes/): Medications are rarely made from start to finish in a single country; raw materials, active ingredients and final products often cross multiple borders before reaching patients in the U.S., The New York Times reported Aug.
- [Insight CEO talks reopening, operating 2 hospitals with ‘chains off’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/insight-ceo-talks-reopening-operating-2-hospitals-with-chains-off/): In early August, Flint, Mich.-based Insight Health System shared plans to reopen two of its Warren, Ohio, hospitals, Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, which have been temporarily closed since late March.
- [10 statistics on the competitive physician hiring market](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/10-statistics-on-the-competitive-physician-hiring-market/): The market for physicians is becoming more intense as hospitals and medical groups compete for a shrinking pool of talent.
- [Boston Scientific recalls vascular stent over injury risk](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/boston-scientific-recalls-vascular-stent-over-injury-risk/): Boston Scientific issued a recall of its Carotid Wallstent Monorail Endoprosthesis due to a manufacturing defect that could cause resistance during device withdrawal.
- [Maternal care crisis gives way to new health system executive roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/maternal-care-crisis-gives-way-to-new-health-system-executive-roles/): A growing number of hospitals and health systems have expanded their C-suite ranks in the last few years to include leaders dedicated to advancing maternal and infant health, reflecting a new level of urgency as hospitals work to address longstanding disparities in outcomes and prepare for a projected rise in high-risk pregnancies.
- [20 hospital closures in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/20-hospital-closures-in-2025/): Editor’s note: This article will be updated continuously.
- [University Hospitals cuts 2,812 policies](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/university-hospitals-cuts-2812-policies/): In the last four years, Cleveland-based University Hospitals has sought to reduce administrative burden and clinical guidance inconsistencies through an audit of thousands of systemwide policies.
- [1,000 UPMC hospital nurses unionize](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/1000-upmc-hospital-nurses-unionize/): Nurses at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh have voted to unionize, in what SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania called the largest nurse organizing effort in Pennsylvania in at least a decade.
- [Payer mix in the largest for-profit health systems](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/payer-mix-in-the-largest-for-profit-health-systems/): The nation’s largest for-profit health systems have filed their second-quarter earnings reports, detailing payer mixes by patient service revenue, patient admissions or both in the first six months of 2025.
- [The most vital skills for healthcare workers in the next 10 years](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-most-vital-skills-for-healthcare-workers-in-the-next-10-years/): As healthcare continues to transform, many workforce leaders agree that the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce go far beyond the traditional way of thinking.
- [59 healthcare leaders share their biggest wins in value-driven care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/59-healthcare-leaders-share-their-biggest-wins-in-value-driven-care/): Becker’s asked C-suite executives from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to share their most recent value-driven wins.
- [Brain tumors linked to traumatic brain injury: 3 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/brain-tumors-linked-to-traumatic-brain-injury-3-study-notes/): A history of traumatic brain injury may be associated with an increased risk of developing a malignant brain tumor, according to a study published Aug.
- [Mississippi issues public health emergency over infant mortality rate](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/mississippi-issues-public-health-emergency-over-infant-mortality-rate/): The infant mortality rate in Mississippi has reached its highest level in more than a decade, prompting state health officials to declare a public health emergency.
- [How leaders would use an extra $100M in clinical work](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-leaders-would-use-an-extra-100m-in-clinical-work/): If you were handed $100 million earmarked for clinical work, where would you invest it first?
- [Georgia system halts physician group deal amid DOJ probe](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/georgia-system-halts-physician-group-deal-amid-doj-probe/): Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System has paused its acquisition of Longstreet Clinic after confirmation that an unspecified number of Longstreet physicians are under investigation by the Justice Department, a spokesperson for the health system told Becker’s.
- [CNIOs share top barriers to nursing adoption of new technology](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/cnios-share-top-barriers-to-nursing-adoption-of-new-technology/): Chief nursing informatics officers say introducing new technology to nursing staff is less about resistance to innovation and more about the realities of practice.
- [Ochsner’s virtual ED helps 70% of patients avoid in-person visits](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/ochsners-virtual-ed-helps-70-of-patients-avoid-in-person-visits/): New Orleans-based Ochsner Health was able to cut emergency department visits with its virtual ED, according to an article published Aug.
- [Hospitals and gender-affirming care restrictions: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hospitals-and-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-what-to-know/): Amid increased federal pressures, more than 20 hospitals and health systems have discontinued transgender care for patients younger than 19.
- [Jefferson posts $196M operating loss in fiscal 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/jefferson-posts-196m-operating-loss-in-fiscal-2025/): Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University, owner of Jefferson Health, recorded an operating loss of $196 million (-1.2% operating margin) in fiscal 2025, down from an operating income of $1.3 million (0% margin) in 2024, according to its Aug.
- [California hospital to close after CMS revokes critical access status](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/california-hospital-to-close-after-cms-revokes-critical-access-status/): Willows, Calif.-based Glenn Medical Center plans to close its emergency room, with the hospital closing shortly after, following CMS’ plan to revoke its critical access hospital designation, ABC affiliate KRCR reported Aug.
- [56 health systems with strong finances](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/56-health-systems-with-strong-finances/): Here are 56 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions, according to reports from credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service released in 2025.
- [Workforce Pressures Mount for Nurses and Technicians as AI and Politics Impact the Workplace](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/workforce-pressures-mount-for-nurses-and-technicians-as-ai-and-politics-impact-the-workplace/): Nurses and technicians make up the majority of the U.S. healthcare workforce, yet their voices are often overlooked.
- [FDA to expedite review of rare disorder treatment](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/fda-to-expedite-review-of-rare-disorder-treatment/): The FDA has accepted Stealth BioTherapeutics’ resubmission of its new drug application for elamipretide, a treatment for Barth syndrome.
- [GLP-1 use linked to reduced cancer risk: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/glp-1-use-linked-to-reduced-cancer-risk-study/): A study has found that adults with obesity taking GLP-1 receptor agonists may face significantly lower risk of developing certain cancers.
- [25 healthcare strikes in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/25-healthcare-strikes-in-2025/): Union activity in healthcare in 2025 has seen more than two dozen strikes reported as of Aug.
- [How Avera is using virtual nursing to tackle rural workforce strain](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-avera-is-using-virtual-nursing-to-tackle-rural-workforce-strain/): For Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health, the promise of virtual nursing lies in keeping rural hospitals staffed and sustainable.
- [Securing the nation’s blood supply: 4 takeaways on continuity & collaboration](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/securing-the-nations-blood-supply-4-takeaways-on-continuity-collaboration/): Every day, hospitals and emergency services rely on a steady blood supply to treat patients undergoing surgeries, trauma care, cancer treatments, and chronic illnesses.
- [61% of ED visits are emergent: 8 takeaways from Vizient’s scorecard report ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/61-of-ed-visits-are-emergent-8-takeaways-from-vizients-scorecard-report/): A growing share of emergency department visits in the U.S.
- [Hospital group urges federal probe of drugmakers’ 340B rebate models: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospital-group-urges-federal-probe-of-drugmakers-340b-rebate-models-5-notes/): The American Hospital Association is calling on federal regulators to launch an antitrust investigation into its claims of drug manufacturers’ actions regarding 340B rebate models.
- [WHO adds GLP-1s to essential medications list](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/who-adds-glp-1s-to-essential-medications-list/): The World Health Organization has updated its Model Lists of Essential Medicines and Essential Medicines for Children, adding drugs for cancer, diabetes, obesity and other conditions.
- [FTC drops appeals of noncompete ban](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ftc-drops-appeals-of-noncompete-ban/): The Federal Trade Commission on Sept.
- [OBBBA impact could cost hospitals $25B a year: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/obbba-impact-could-cost-hospitals-25b-a-year-report/): Hospitals nationwide could see annual revenue losses of up to $25 billion through Medicaid losses stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to a new analysis from Kodiak Solutions.
- [Hackers leave ransom note after cyberattack at Georgia hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hackers-leave-ransom-note-after-cyberattack-at-georgia-hospital/): Jesup, Ga.-based Wayne Memorial Hospital said it received a ransom note after a June 2024 cyberattack that allowed hackers to access some patient information.
- [FDA greenlights trial for pig kidney transplant](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fda-greenlights-trial-for-pig-kidney-transplant/): Mass General Brigham, based in Somerville, Mass., and eGenesis have received FDA approval for a clinical trial testing genetically engineered pig kidneys.
- [From niche to routine: How genetic testing is reshaping everyday care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/from-niche-to-routine-how-genetic-testing-is-reshaping-everyday-care/): Mainstreaming genetics – Testing now guides real-time treatment.
- [Free CNA training program targets staffing gaps, nurse retention at CHI Health ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/free-cna-training-program-targets-staffing-gaps-nurse-retention-at-chi-health/): Omaha, Neb.-based CHI Health is building its own pipeline of clinical support staff through a new program that offers free training, certification and guaranteed employment to aspiring certified nursing assistants.
- [The time is now: building operational resilience for a changing healthcare landscape](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-time-is-now-building-operational-resilience-for-a-changing-healthcare-landscape/): Sweeping policy changes are reshaping reimbursement and funding, putting unprecedented pressure on operating margins.
- [Missouri system to launch digital patient forms](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/missouri-system-to-launch-digital-patient-forms/): West Plains, Mo.-based Ozarks Healthcare will roll out digital preregistration and health forms for patients beginning Sept.
- [US fall mortality rises — are prescription drugs to blame?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/us-fall-mortality-rises-are-prescription-drugs-to-blame/): The fall mortality rate among older adults in the U.S.
- [Why ‘hospitality’ is more than a buzzword for this 21-hospital system ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/why-hospitality-is-more-than-a-buzzword-for-this-21-hospital-system/): Cliff Megerian, MD, has served as CEO of Cleveland-based University Hospitals for nearly five years, overseeing a $6.4 billion health system that spans 21 hospitals across 22 counties in Northeast Ohio.
- [Details emerge on Florida’s plan to end vaccine mandates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/details-emerge-on-floridas-plan-to-end-vaccine-mandates/): Officials with the Florida Department of Health anticipate new rules to end school-based vaccine requirements to take effect in 90 days, beginning with chickenpox and immunizations for other diseases.
- [Hospital margins slide to 2.6% average, profitability declines: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospital-margins-slide-to-2-6-average-profitability-declines-6-notes/): Hospital finances continued to show signs of strain in July, with national operating margins slipping from recent highs and profitability pressures mounting.
- [Which states are happiest?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/which-states-are-happiest/): Hawaii is the happiest state while West Virginia comes in at the bottom of the list, according to a Sept. 8 report from WalletHub.
- [Medicaid + health system liquidity: 10 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/medicaid-health-system-liquidity-10-notes/): Health systems gauge financial strength on a variety of metrics, with one of the key indicators being days cash on hand.
- [US maternity care cuts continue to deepen](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/us-maternity-care-cuts-continue-to-deepen/): During a Sept. 4 Senate Finance Committee hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Oregon Sen.
- [27 large health systems growing bigger](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/27-large-health-systems-growing-bigger/): As merger and acquisition activity picks up post-pandemic, dozens of large health systems are expanding their footprints — adding hospitals, building regional dominance and solidifying national reach.
- [4 things to know about 2025’s pay raise outlook](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/4-things-to-know-about-2025s-pay-raise-outlook/): One-third of companies across industries have reduced their planned salary budgets for 2025 due to economic uncertainty, according to a survey from Korn Ferry.
- [HCA takes safety ‘field trips’ to other industries](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hca-takes-safety-field-trips-to-other-industries/): To increase patient safety, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare takes staff on “field trips” to learn from other high-risk industries, such as chemical manufacturing, according to an American Hospital Association podcast published Sept.
- [Executives, employees differ on economic outlook: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/executives-employees-differ-on-economic-outlook-linkedin/): Executives across U.S. industries remain more optimistic about economic conditions than employees, according to a Sept. 4 LinkedIn News post.
- [5 medical device recalls, corrections](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/5-medical-device-recalls-corrections/): Ambu is recalling specific lots of its SPUR II manual resuscitators because a blocked manometer port renders the manometer nonfunctional.
- [House bill aims to make telehealth access permanent](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/house-bill-aims-to-make-telehealth-access-permanent/): A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House would permanently extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities that are set to expire Sept.
- [Healthcare job growth slows: 5 notes ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/healthcare-job-growth-slows-5-notes/): Healthcare added 31,000 jobs in August, below the monthly average of 42,000 over the past 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest report on U.S.
- [Cybercriminals weaponize AI agents against healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cybercriminals-weaponize-ai-agents-against-healthcare/): Cybercriminals are weaponizing AI agents to attack industries including healthcare, AI company Anthropic found.
- [529 top hospitals for nurse communication](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/529-top-hospitals-for-nurse-communication/): Becker’s compiled a list of hospitals that were rated 5 stars for nurse communication in each state, according to CMS’ Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data.
- [Change Healthcare hack delays Oracle Health VA EHR testing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/change-healthcare-hack-delays-oracle-health-va-ehr-testing/): The Change Healthcare cyberattack delayed testing for a new Oracle EHR at an Illinois hospital jointly operated by the U.S.
- [A rare nurse role that is eliminating hospital pain points](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/a-rare-nurse-role-that-is-eliminating-hospital-pain-points/): Nurse scientists are a rare but growing role in hospitals that address not just research, but operational and patient care pain points.
- [The surprising aspects of spine surgeons’ work](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-surprising-aspects-of-spine-surgeons-work/): From insurance “misalignment” to patient hostility, spine surgeons discuss the surprising aspects that came up in their work since 2020.
- [Orthopedic surgeon partners with Redwood Growth Partners](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/orthopedic-surgeon-partners-with-redwood-growth-partners/): Alejandro Badia, MD, orthopedic surgeon and founder of Miami-based OrthoNOW, partnered with Redwood Growth Partners, according to a Sept. 3 news release.
- [An ‘adventurous’ approach to endoscopic spine](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/an-adventurous-approach-to-endoscopic-spine/): Endoscopic spine’s growth will depend on a forward-thinking mindset among surgeons and pushing new boundaries, Xiaofei (Sophie) Zhou, MD, said.
- [Rural hospitals painted as bright spot in tense RFK Jr. Senate hearing: 3 takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/rural-hospitals-painted-as-bright-spot-in-tense-rfk-jr-senate-hearing-3-takeaways/): HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept.
- [City of Hope brings Disney-style immersion to spiritual care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/city-of-hope-brings-disney-style-immersion-to-spiritual-care/): Whenever Annette Walker, president of Irvine, Calif.-based City of Hope Orange County, has entered a hospital’s spiritual care center, typically she sees one of two things.
- [Wegovy gains new approval: 3 GLP-1 updates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/wegovy-gains-new-approval-3-glp-1-updates/): Novo Nordisk’s popular weight loss drug, Wegovy, is the first and only GLP-1 medication approved to treat metabolic associated steatohepatitis, a serious condition marked by liver scarring.
- [A disjointed map of vaccine guidance emerges ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/a-disjointed-map-of-vaccine-guidance-emerges/): States are beginning to take vaccine policies and recommendations into their own hands amid turmoil at the CDC, which could lead to a patchwork of varying approaches across the country and raise logistical questions for multi-state health systems.
- [Trinity Health regional CEO named to 2 hospital group leadership roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/trinity-health-regional-ceo-named-to-2-hospital-group-leadership-roles/): Silver Spring, Md.-based Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Regional President and CEO Andre Boyd Sr. was appointed to two healthcare leadership boards.
- [Judge orders US to restore $2.2B in Harvard grants](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/judge-orders-us-to-restore-2-2b-in-harvard-grants/): The U.S. government’s termination of nearly $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University violated the First Amendment and federal law, a judge for the U.S.
- [Top 15 universities for cardiology: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/top-15-universities-for-cardiology-us-news/): Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University is the No. 1 university in the U.S. for cardiac and cardiovascular systems, according to U.S.
- [Supply, demand and shifting priorities: Cardiology enters the GLP-1 era](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/supply-demand-and-shifting-priorities-cardiology-enters-the-glp-1-era/): The statistics are clear: GLP-1 medications can have a dramatic effect on cardiovascular health.
- [Fewer than half of cardiovascular trial participants are women: 3 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fewer-than-half-of-cardiovascular-trial-participants-are-women-3-things-to-know/): Women represent 41% of participants in clinical trials investigating cardiovascular health and disease, according to a study published Aug.
- [The infection metric hospitals need to standardize: 7 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-infection-metric-hospitals-need-to-standardize-7-notes/): Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found there is no standard definition for what constitutes contamination in a blood culture, which could lead to more false positives and CLABSI infections.
- [Michael Dowling: Creating a talent pipeline through healthcare-focused high schools](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/michael-dowling-creating-a-talent-pipeline-through-healthcare-focused-high-schools/): As the largest employers in most communities, hospitals and health systems are always looking for new talent.
- [FDA slams Amneal for ‘significant violations’ in warning letter](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fda-slams-amneal-for-significant-violations-in-warning-letter/): The FDA has issued a warning letter to Amneal Pharmaceuticals, citing “significant violations” of manufacturing standards after finding the drugmaker used contaminated IV bags in the manufacture of injectable products.
- [Systems give high schoolers a taste of healthcare careers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/systems-give-high-schoolers-a-taste-of-healthcare-careers/): Health systems are increasingly focused on offering healthcare “samplers” to young people before they choose a career path.
- [Oracle lays off staff at former Cerner campus: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/oracle-lays-off-staff-at-former-cerner-campus-report/): Oracle has laid off workers at its former Cerner campus in Kansas City, Mo., KMBC reported.
- [Henry Ford Health hospital nurses extend strike to day 3](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/henry-ford-health-hospital-nurses-extend-strike-to-day-3/): A strike by nurses at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Mich., has entered its third day.
- [Maine system eliminates 308 positions, including senior leadership roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/maine-system-eliminates-308-positions-including-senior-leadership-roles/): Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health has trimmed its workforce by 3% — a reduction of 308 positions — amid ongoing financial challenges and operational restructuring, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker’s.
- [Closed Mercyhealth Illinois hospital sold to local pastor ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/closed-mercyhealth-illinois-hospital-sold-to-local-pastor/): Rockford, Ill.-based Mercyhealth has signed a purchase agreement with pastor Melvin Brown, PhD, and his wife, Sheila Brown, for its shuttered Javon Bea Hospital-Rockton in Rockford.
- [AI salaries skyrocket](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ai-salaries-skyrocket/): AI salaries are on the rise, as some new college graduates with expertise in the technology are making $1 million a year, the Wall Street Journal reported.
- [HOPDs treat sicker patients than physician offices: AHA study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hopds-treat-sicker-patients-than-physician-offices-aha-study/): A new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association has found patients treated in hospital outpatient departments typically are sicker and require more medically complex treatment than those seen in independent physician offices.
- [Corewell Health touts virtual care in chronic disease treatment ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/corewell-health-touts-virtual-care-in-chronic-disease-treatment/): Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Corewell Health has reported measurable improvements in chronic disease outcomes through its virtual lifestyle medicine partnership with Nudj Health.
- [8 health systems outsourcing RCM functions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/8-health-systems-outsourcing-rcm-functions/): The post 8 health systems outsourcing RCM functions appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
- [HHS opens catastrophic coverage to more uninsured Americans: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hhs-opens-catastrophic-coverage-to-more-uninsured-americans-5-notes/): The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will expand access to catastrophic health plans beginning Nov.
- [HHS to crack down on data blocking](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hhs-to-crack-down-on-data-blocking/): The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will increase enforcement against healthcare organizations that block access to electronic health information, citing the need to improve patient engagement and protect data rights.
- [4 recent hospital, health system president exits](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/4-recent-hospital-health-system-president-exits/): Note: This page was created Jan. 10 and was updated Sept.
- [Banner hospital taps chief nursing officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/banner-hospital-taps-chief-nursing-officer/): Tucson, Ariz.-based Banner-University Medicine named Beth Draves, RN, chief nursing officer.
- [Common nasal spray may lower COVID-19 risk: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/common-nasal-spray-may-lower-covid-19-risk-study/): A commonly available nasal spray may significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, according to clinical trial results.
- [Florida to eliminate vaccine mandates ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/florida-to-eliminate-vaccine-mandates/): Florida will move to scrap all vaccine mandates in the state, including routine immunization requirements for children entering kindergarten, state officials said Sept.
- [3 states take vaccine guidance into their own hands: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/3-states-take-vaccine-guidance-into-their-own-hands-5-notes/): California, Oregon and Washington are forming a health alliance that would coordinate vaccine recommendations for their residents, according to a Sept.
- [Urine-based test detects prostate cancer with 91% accuracy: Johns Hopkins](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/urine-based-test-detects-prostate-cancer-with-91-accuracy-johns-hopkins/): A urine-based biomarker panel detected prostate cancer in 91% of specimens with a diagnostic accuracy of 78.6% to 85.7%, according to a study published Sept.
- [Repurposed drugs successfully target cancer ‘sleeper cells’: 5 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/repurposed-drugs-successfully-target-cancer-sleeper-cells-5-study-notes/): Researchers have successfully used repurposed cancer drugs to target dormant breast cancer cells, aiding in the delay or prevention of recurrence, according to a study published Sept.
- [COVID cases climb amid vaccine uncertainty: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/covid-cases-climb-amid-vaccine-uncertainty-5-notes/): As the number of COVID-19 cases begin to increase, there have been shifts in the vaccine landscape, especially regarding updated COVID-19 shots.
- [Justice Department sues nursing home operator ProMedica](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/justice-department-sues-nursing-home-operator-promedica/): The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica Health System for providing “non-existent, grossly substandard skilled nursing facility care or services” between 2017 and 2023.
- [HCA’s Mission Hospital plans to hire 200 nurses, techs in 100 days](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hcas-mission-hospital-plans-to-hire-200-nurses-techs-in-100-days/): Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital is planning to expand its clinical team significantly through the end of the year, according to a local ABC 13 News report.
- [Lawmakers introduce hospital-at-home, telehealth extension](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/lawmakers-introduce-hospital-at-home-telehealth-extension/): Federal lawmakers have introduced a bill to extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries and CMS’ hospital-at-home waiver.
- [Real-time drug pricing access rule to take effect](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/real-time-drug-pricing-access-rule-to-take-effect/): HHS announced prescription drug reforms are set to take effect Oct.
- [Court rules Trump tariffs unlawful: 6 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/court-rules-trump-tariffs-unlawful-6-things-to-know/): President Donald Trump’s imposed tariffs on foreign nations have been ruled unlawful by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- [Why chaplains are an ‘untapped resource’ in healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/why-chaplains-are-an-untapped-resource-in-healthcare/): Healthcare chaplains, also known as spiritual care providers, can play a key role in advancing hospitals’ and health systems’ strategic priorities.
- [FDA approves weekly Alzheimer’s drug](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fda-approves-weekly-alzheimers-drug/): The FDA has approved Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi for injection to treat individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
- [How Novant is meeting a ‘pivotal moment’ through tuition aid](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/how-novant-is-meeting-a-pivotal-moment-through-tuition-aid/): Novant Health is supporting career advancement for its workforce by addressing one of the most significant barriers: the cost of education.
- [‘Business as usual’ won’t to retain nurses: Massachusetts hospital CNO says](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/business-as-usual-wont-to-retain-nurses-massachusetts-hospital-cno-says/): In May, Holyoke (Mass.)
- [Patient safety is a health system’s smartest investment](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/patient-safety-is-a-health-systems-smartest-investment/): “First, do no harm” may be the most well-known adage in the medical profession, but it’s far more than an admonishment.
- [Trump demands COVID ‘drug’ data from pharmaceutical companies](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/trump-demands-covid-drug-data-from-pharmaceutical-companies/): In a Sept. 1 Truth Social post, President Trump said he had been shown “extraordinary” results from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies that had not been presented to the public.
- [20% of med students face food insecurity: Study ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/20-of-med-students-face-food-insecurity-study/): More than 1 in 5 medical students in the U.S.
- [Beta blockers may not benefit 50% of heart attack patients: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/beta-blockers-may-not-benefit-50-of-heart-attack-patients-what-to-know/): Beta blockers may provide no clinical benefit to patients who maintain normal heart function following a heart attack, according to a study published Aug.
- [GLP-1s reduce heart failure death, hospitalization: 3 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/glp-1s-reduce-heart-failure-death-hospitalization-3-things-to-know/): Both semaglutide and tirzepatide were shown to “significantly reduce” the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality for heart failure patients, according to a study published Aug.
- [ACIP to review COVID, MMR and RSV vaccines](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/acip-to-review-covid-mmr-and-rsv-vaccines/): In mid-September, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will discuss — and potentially vote on — vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and respiratory syncytial virus.
- [52 nursing programs opening, expanding, ending in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/52-nursing-programs-opening-expanding-ending-in-2025/): Here are nursing programs that are opening, expanding and ending in 2025.
- [AI at CommonSpirit: 230 tools, $100M impact](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ai-at-commonspirit-230-tools-100m-impact/): With 230 AI applications live across its hospitals, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health is setting a benchmark for thoughtful AI adoption in healthcare, CIO Daniel Barchi told Becker’s.
- [Where AI can make the biggest impact for nurses ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/where-ai-can-make-the-biggest-impact-for-nurses/): Artificial intelligence in nursing is often framed as a way to cut paperwork.
- [The state where all hospitals have perfect health equity scores](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-state-where-all-hospitals-have-perfect-health-equity-scores/): Delaware is the only state where 100% of its hospitals scored perfectly on health equity measures, according to CMS data.
- [Stroke care may shift with Mount Sinai AI model](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/stroke-care-may-shift-with-mount-sinai-ai-model/): New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has developed an artificial intelligence model that helps determine which atrial fibrillation patients benefit from blood thinners to prevent stroke.
- [Mayo Clinic AI model predicts ALS](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/mayo-clinic-ai-model-predicts-als/): Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence model that can predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and anticipate patient survival using data from F-wave nerve conduction studies.
- [Cleveland Clinic, IBM open next phase of quantum health innovation program](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cleveland-clinic-ibm-open-next-phase-of-quantum-health-innovation-program/): Cleveland Clinic is opening applications for the second round of its Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program, an initiative designed to help startups test how quantum computing could be used in healthcare and life sciences.
- [AMA split on RFK Jr.](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ama-split-on-rfk-jr/): The American Medical Association is weighing whether to work with HHS Secretary Robert F.
- [15 best, worst cities to retire](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/15-best-worst-cities-to-retire/): Orlando, Fla., is the best place to retire, largely due to its lack of income, estate or inheritance taxes and its availability of recreational activities, according to a Sept.
- [Translating Performance Excellence Improves Brand Recognition](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/translating-performance-excellence-improves-brand-recognition/): Healthcare leaders tend to be very internally focused and for all the right reasons.
- [Managing Back-to-School Respiratory Infections](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/managing-back-to-school-respiratory-infections/): In late summer, tens of millions of children throughout the United States return to school, sharing tales of their summer adventures and, inevitably, new germs.
- [DARVIS Appoints Michael Prokopis as Chief Executive Officer to Accelerate AI-Driven Healthcare Transformation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/darvis-appoints-michael-prokopis-as-chief-executive-officer-to-accelerate-ai-driven-healthcare-transformation/): Houston, TX — August 18, 2025 — DARVIS Inc., the AI-powered computer vision leader transforming healthcare logistics, proudly announces the appointment of Michael Prokopis as Chief Executive Officer.
- [Thriving Through Financial Pressure by Unlocking Hidden Margins](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/thriving-through-financial-pressure-by-unlocking-hidden-margins/): Health systems continually balance delivering exceptional patient care, maintaining cutting-edge equipment and ensuring financial solvency.
- [The Future of Healthcare Credentialing Is an Ongoing Dialogue—Not a One-and-Done Certification](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-future-of-healthcare-credentialing-is-an-ongoing-dialogue-not-a-one-and-done-certification/): As healthcare evolves, so must the ways we define and maintain professional competency.
- [Certified Nurse-Midwives: The Untapped Solution to the Nation’s Maternal Health Crisis](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/certified-nurse-midwives-the-untapped-solution-to-the-nations-maternal-health-crisis/): It’s no secret that the United States is facing a worsening maternal health care crisis.
- [MetroHealth to push insurance sign-ups to curb $1M daily charity care costs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/metrohealth-to-push-insurance-sign-ups-to-curb-1m-daily-charity-care-costs/): Cleveland-based MetroHealth plans to launch an initiative to help patients enroll in Medicare, Medicaid and ACA’s marketplace insurance to reduce its soaring charity care costs that now exceed $1 million per day, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker’s.
- [How Forbes’ best employers for women boost leadership development](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/how-forbes-best-employers-for-women-boost-leadership-development/): Forty hospitals and health systems were named to Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Women 2025.
- [HHS expands oversight into organ transplant network](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/hhs-expands-oversight-into-organ-transplant-network/): HHS launched a dashboard Aug. 27 to track organ transplants that skip patients next in line on transplant waiting lists.
- [The hardest lessons for orthopedic leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/the-hardest-lessons-for-orthopedic-leaders/): Learning how to deal with declining reimbursements while still delivering top quality care and adapting personal strategies to lift up the strengths of colleagues are just two of the difficult lessons that orthopedic surgeons are reporting they have learned.
- [Senators probe UnitedHealth over ‘predatory’ loan collections](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/senators-probe-unitedhealth-over-predatory-loan-collections/): Two U.S. senators are pressing UnitedHealth Group for answers on what they deemed “predatory” tactics from the company in seeking loan repayments from healthcare providers related to the 2024 Change Healthcare cyberattack.
- [Healthcare needs a stronger ‘backbone’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/healthcare-needs-a-stronger-backbone/): For decades, healthcare has invested in breakthrough technologies — from artificial intelligence to genomics to robotics — with the promise of delivering safer, smarter, more personalized care.
- [U of Iowa Health Care delays expansion project amid federal cuts ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/u-of-iowa-health-care-delays-expansion-project-amid-federal-cuts/): University of Iowa Health Care has decided to delay work on a $2 billion inpatient tower due to federal funding changes that are projected to result in a $9.5 billion reduction in healthcare funding to Iowa.
- [Children’s hospitals, cancer centers lose funding for brain tumor trials](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/08/childrens-hospitals-cancer-centers-lose-funding-for-brain-tumor-trials/): Children’s hospitals and cancer centers are halting enrollment in pediatric brain tumor studies after the federal government paused funding, The New York Times reported Aug.
- [Gen Z least likely to prefer fully remote work: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/gen-z-least-likely-to-prefer-fully-remote-work-gallup/): Generation Z employees — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are the least likely generation to prefer fully remote work, according to a report from Gallup.
- [CDC reports 460% surge in drug-resistant bacteria ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cdc-reports-460-surge-in-drug-resistant-bacteria/): Infections caused by a highly drug-resistant and dangerous bacteria known as NDM-producing carpabenem-resistant Enterobacterales, or NDM-CRE, have surged by more than 460% in the U.S.
- [States by nurse practitioners per capita: 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/states-by-nurse-practitioners-per-capita-2025/): The District of Columbia has the most active nurse practitioners per capita, while Hawaii has the fewest for the second year in a row, according to a ranking from KFF.
- [Where healthcare leaders would invest extra funds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/where-healthcare-leaders-would-invest-extra-funds/): If healthcare professionals had extra funds, workforce development most likely is how they would spend it, a Becker’s poll found.
- [6 drugs in shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/6-drugs-in-shortage/): Here are six new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
- [The leadership landscape — Strategies for women transforming healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-leadership-landscape-strategies-for-women-transforming-healthcare/): Women in healthcare leadership continue to face outsized challenges — from implicit bias to unequal expectations.
- [10 best, worst cities for women](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/10-best-worst-cities-for-women/): Columbia, Md., is the best U.S. city for women, according to a Sept. 22 ranking from WalletHub.
- [US News’ 21 best BSN programs| 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/us-news-21-best-bsn-programs-2025/): U.S. News & World Report has released its latest rankings of the nation’s best Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
- [Hospital death rates rise after PE acquisition: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospital-death-rates-rise-after-pe-acquisition-study/): Hospitals acquired by private equity firms experience a higher patient death rate in emergency departments than other hospitals, according to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
- [Medicare insulin program cuts costs, improves care: RAND](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/medicare-insulin-program-cuts-costs-improves-care-rand/): CMS’ Part D Senior Savings Model effectively increased insulin use while reducing out-of-pocket costs among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a RAND report published Sept.
- [As cancer care advances, a workforce shortage looms](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/as-cancer-care-advances-a-workforce-shortage-looms/): Dr. Winn is the director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Richmond, Va.-based VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
- [White House weighs direct-to-consumer drug discount website](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/white-house-weighs-direct-to-consumer-drug-discount-website/): The Trump administration is exploring the creation of a government website to connect patients directly with pharmaceutical companies offering discounted prescription drugs, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported Sept.
- [What’s to blame for claim denials?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/whats-to-blame-for-claim-denials/): Forty-one percent of providers surveyed said they are facing claim denial rates of 10% or higher, up from 38% in 2024, according to a Sept.
- [Trump’s new H-1B visa fee could strain hospitals, workforces: 8 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/trumps-new-h-1b-visa-fee-could-strain-hospitals-workforces-8-notes/): On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment to accompany any new H-1B visa petitions.
- [10 metro areas with the highest, lowest average physician compensation adjusted for cost of living](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/10-metro-areas-with-the-highest-lowest-average-physician-compensation-adjusted-for-cost-of-living/): Rochester, Minn., offered the highest average annual physician compensation adjusted for cost of living in 2024 among other metropolitan areas in the U.S., according to Doximity’s “Physician Compensation Report 2025.” Boston had the lowest.
- [CDC panel votes to change MMRV, COVID-19 vaccine guidance: 5 takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cdc-panel-votes-to-change-mmrv-covid-19-vaccine-guidance-5-takeaways/): In its first meeting since June, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in favor of several key recommendations that would alter federal vaccine guidelines if adopted by the CDC.
- [A ‘constant evolution’: How health systems police employees’ social media use](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/a-constant-evolution-how-health-systems-police-employees-social-media-use/): As health systems continue to discipline employees for inflammatory social media posts, chief marketing officers told Becker’s it’s a constant struggle to inform and police staff about their online activities.
- [11 most common sentinel events in 2024: Joint Commission](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/11-most-common-sentinel-events-in-2024-joint-commission/): In 2024, healthcare facilities voluntarily reported 1,575 serious harmful events to The Joint Commission, which has been tracking sentinel events since 1996.
- [Wellstar scales nurse scheduling platform ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/wellstar-scales-nurse-scheduling-platform/): Wellstar Health System is implementing an AI platform to streamline nurse scheduling at each of its 11 hospitals after a successful pilot program.
- [Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025: 5 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/telehealth-modernization-act-of-2025-5-things-to-know/): U.S. lawmakers introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025 on Sept.
- [The Hidden Power Behind High-Performing Healthcare: Clinician Engagement](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-hidden-power-behind-high-performing-healthcare-clinician-engagement/): Clinician burnout may be one of the most pressing and widespread challenges in today’s healthcare environment.
- [Health systems lean into new nurse workflows](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/health-systems-lean-into-new-nurse-workflows/): Health systems are rethinking nurse employment models to meet growing demands for flexibility and improve retention.
- [FDA warns drugmakers over advertising practices](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fda-warns-drugmakers-over-advertising-practices/): The FDA has made public dozens of warning letters sent to drug companies accused of misleading or deceptive advertising.
- [Hospitals face digital divide tied to socioeconomic status: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospitals-face-digital-divide-tied-to-socioeconomic-status-study/): Hospitals serving socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are less likely to adopt health IT tools such as telehealth and health information exchange platforms.
- [Joint Commission names 2025 top organizations, individual for patient safety, quality](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/joint-commission-names-2025-top-organizations-individual-for-patient-safety-quality/): The Joint Commission awarded three individuals and organizations for excellence in patient safety and healthcare quality.
- [A nurse role pushing healthcare into the future](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/a-nurse-role-pushing-healthcare-into-the-future/): There is a small, but growing group of people who are pushing patient care into the future: nurse scientists.
- [Childhood vaccination rates drop: 4 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/childhood-vaccination-rates-drop-4-things-to-know/): Childhood vaccination rates in the U.S.
- [Georgia hospital to end birthing services, cites Medicaid cuts ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/georgia-hospital-to-end-birthing-services-cites-medicaid-cuts/): Athens, Ga.-based St. Mary’s Health Care System has shared plans to end labor and delivery services at St.
- [Health systems are rethinking workforce compensation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/health-systems-are-rethinking-workforce-compensation/): Hospitals and health systems are shifting their view of compensation to consider it not as a standalone lever, but as one element of a comprehensive workforce strategy.
- [University Hospitals offers inpatient virtual nursing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/university-hospitals-offers-inpatient-virtual-nursing/): Cleveland-based University Hospitals has activated a whole-hospital virtual nursing program at UH Lake West Medical Center, expanding its connected care team initiative.
- [Nurse practitioner, RN shortage to hit 362,000 by 2032](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/nurse-practitioner-rn-shortage-to-hit-362000-by-2032/): More than 1 million U.S.
- [10 most, least diverse states in US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/10-most-least-diverse-states-in-us/): California is the most diverse state in the U.S., and West Virginia is the least, according to a new analysis from WalletHub, published Sept.
- [4 drugs in shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/4-drugs-in-shortage/): Here are four new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
- [The low-lift practices that boosted these EDs to excellence](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-low-lift-practices-that-boosted-these-eds-to-excellence/): Leaders from some of the top hospitals for emergency department excellence are sharing their low-lift processes and practices that helped them earn national honors.
- [Cause of heart attacks among women misdiagnosed: Mayo Clinic](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cause-of-heart-attacks-among-women-misdiagnosed-mayo-clinic/): While clogged arteries are the most common cause of heart attacks, more than half of heart attacks in women under the age of 65 can be attributed to other causes, according to a study published Sept.
- [12 more individuals charged in Florida nurse degree scheme](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/12-more-individuals-charged-in-florida-nurse-degree-scheme/): Prosecutors in Florida have charged 12 former nursing school owners and employees with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a coordinated scheme to sell thousands of fraudulent diplomas and transcripts to aspiring nurses.
- [Amazon expands healthcare offerings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/amazon-expands-healthcare-offerings/): Amazon has added Fay, a dietitian platform, as the first nutrition care service available through its Health Benefits Connector.
- [5 healthcare policies to watch this month ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/5-healthcare-policies-to-watch-this-month/): Congress is staring down a fast-approaching Sept. 30 government funding deadline.
- [55% of healthcare workers plan to change roles within 1 year: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/55-of-healthcare-workers-plan-to-change-roles-within-1-year-survey/): More than half of U.S. healthcare workers plan to change roles in the next year, according to a recent survey from Strategic Education.
- [Physician search timelines stretch despite steady demand: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/physician-search-timelines-stretch-despite-steady-demand-6-notes/): While recruitment demand for physicians remains steady, search times continue to rise, and turnover persists, according to the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment’s annual benchmarking report.
- [Pressing nurse retention issues, tips: 7 health system leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/pressing-nurse-retention-issues-tips-7-health-system-leaders/): Nurse retention remains a major challenge for U.S.
- [How patients rated 11 cancer hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/how-patients-rated-11-cancer-hospitals/): Between July 7, 2023, and June 30, 2024, Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center had the highest percentage of patient rating scores at 9 or 10 among all cancer hospitals exempt from reporting to Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System.
- [The ‘impossible’ nurse model that saved this hospital $40k annually](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-impossible-nurse-model-that-saved-this-hospital-40k-annually/): Hartford, Ky.-based Ohio County Hospital has saved more than $40,000 a year by converting all of their nurses to salaried positions.
- [5 ways to nurture growth in yourself, others through mentorship](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/5-ways-to-nurture-growth-in-yourself-others-through-mentorship/): In my early days as medical director in the neonatal intensive care unit, I learned quickly that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; rather, it’s about building collaborative teams and creating space for others to contribute meaningfully.
- [HCA Florida hospital nurses vote to unionize](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hca-florida-hospital-nurses-vote-to-unionize/): Registered nurses at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach have voted in favor of unionizing.
- [CMS opens $50B rural health fund to states: 1-time application due Nov. 5](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cms-opens-50b-rural-health-fund-to-states-1-time-application-due-nov-5/): CMS on Sept. 15 released new details on how states can apply for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program.
- [Hospital profitability: 34 statistics for 2025 so far](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospital-profitability-34-statistics-for-2025-so-far/): Nonprofit hospitals are experiencing a markedly uneven financial landscape in 2025, with profitability trends diverging sharply by region and hospital size, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest National Hospital Flash Report.
- [‘Endlessly repairing an old car:’ The case for new health IT](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/endlessly-repairing-an-old-car-the-case-for-new-health-it/): For nursing informatics leaders, the job is less about chasing the latest gadget and more about navigating competing demands.
- [Pediatric radiology workforce shrinking: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/pediatric-radiology-workforce-shrinking-what-to-know/): The proportion of pediatric radiologists — among all radiologists in the U.S.
- [Rural hospitals’ future under the One Big Beautiful Bill](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/rural-hospitals-future-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill/): How will the recent federal budget legislation – the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) – slowly and inevitably undermine rural hospitals?
- [Why hospitals want patients clicking this MyChart button](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/why-hospitals-want-patients-clicking-this-mychart-button/): More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for organ transplants, and each day, an average of 13 die before a donor becomes available.
- [Judge blocks Trump administration effort to obtain Boston Children’s Hospital records](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/judge-blocks-trump-administration-effort-to-obtain-boston-childrens-hospital-records/): A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to obtain medical records from Boston Children’s Hospital related to gender-affirming care, ruling that the Justice Department’s subpoena was improper and “motivated only by bad faith,” according to court documents obtained by Becker’s.
- [Inside the tech transforming Lurie Children’s nurse training](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/inside-the-tech-transforming-lurie-childrens-nurse-training/): Competency tracking is an important part of nursing professional development, used to ensure new hires and experienced staff are meeting skills requirements tied to orientation, annual education and regulatory standards.
- [How supply costs have grown at 20 health systems ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/how-supply-costs-have-grown-at-20-health-systems/): On average, supply costs accounted for 13% of hospitals’ expenses in 2024, according to the American Hospital Association’s annual “Cost of Caring” report released April 30.
- [Florida health system responds to viral video celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/florida-health-system-responds-to-viral-video-celebrating-charlie-kirks-death/): South Miami, Fla.-based Larkin Health System has denied rumors that an anesthesiologist who posted a video celebrating the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk works for the organization.
- [UCHealth partners with community college to increase nursing enrollment](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/uchealth-partners-with-community-college-to-increase-nursing-enrollment/): Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth and Pueblo (Colo.)
- [GLP-1 drug approvals: A breakdown](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/glp-1-drug-approvals-a-breakdown/): As of Sept. 10, the FDA has approved more than a dozen glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular disease and other indications.
- [States taking action on vaccine access: A breakdown](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/states-taking-action-on-vaccine-access-a-breakdown/): A growing number of states are taking action to ensure broad access to COVID-19 vaccines as respiratory virus season approaches.
- [18 best health system employers: Fortune](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/18-best-health-system-employers-fortune/): Eighteen health systems were featured on Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work Institute’s annual “Best Workplaces in Health Care” list.
- [Geisinger, Microsoft agree to $5M data breach settlement](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/geisinger-microsoft-agree-to-5m-data-breach-settlement/): Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger and Microsoft’s Nuance Communications have agreed to a $5 million settlement over a 2023 data breach that affected 1.2 million patients.
- [Heart disease, cancer deaths increased in 2024: CDC](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/heart-disease-cancer-deaths-increased-in-2024-cdc/): Heart disease and cancer were the leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2024, according to a CDC report published Sept.
- [CMS issues guidance on Medicaid state-directed payment limits](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cms-issues-guidance-on-medicaid-state-directed-payment-limits/): The Trump administration is moving forward with tighter oversight of Medicaid state-directed payments.
- [Gene therapy maker reports patient death, halts trial](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/gene-therapy-maker-reports-patient-death-halts-trial/): A child enrolled in Capside Biotherapeutics’ gene therapy trial for STXBP1 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy has died, prompting the company to pause the study while investigating the death.
- [Missouri hospital to close, cites ‘unstable healthcare environment’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/missouri-hospital-to-close-cites-unstable-healthcare-environment/): Landmark Hospital of Cape Girardeau (Mo.), a long-term acute care facility, has shared plans to close “in the coming weeks,” according to a Sept.
- [AMA backs HHS’ crackdown on information blocking](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ama-backs-hhs-crackdown-on-information-blocking/): The American Medical Association is supporting new federal enforcement measures aimed at curbing information blocking, a practice the group says has long impeded patient care and physician efficiency.
- [5 health systems seeking revenue cycle executive directors](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/5-health-systems-seeking-revenue-cycle-executive-directors/): Five hospitals and health systems recently posted job listings seeking revenue cycle executive directors.
- [Bon Secours Mercy Health names chief information security officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/bon-secours-mercy-health-names-chief-information-security-officer/): Tracy Griffin has been named chief information security officer of Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health.
- [Which states have the most nurses, per capita?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/which-states-have-the-most-nurses-per-capita/): The District of Columbia holds the highest ratio of nurses to population, to a significant degree, at 7.14 per 100 residents, while Utah has the lowest, at 1.38, according to a Becker’s analysis.
- [Oracle adds AI supply chain tools for healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/oracle-adds-ai-supply-chain-tools-for-healthcare/): Oracle has introduced new AI-powered features in its Fusion Cloud Applications aimed at helping healthcare organizations strengthen supply chain operations.
- [Northwestern retools the ‘coal mine’ to reduce clinician burnout](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/northwestern-retools-the-coal-mine-to-reduce-clinician-burnout/): Gaurava Agarwal, MD, grew up with coal mine references through his father, and those metaphors have informed Northwestern Medicine’s approach to clinician wellness and burnout prevention.
- [340B drug spending up 565%: CBO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/340b-drug-spending-up-565-cbo/): Spending through the 340B Drug Pricing Program rose by 565% between 2010 and 2021, increasing from $6.6 billion to $43.9 billion, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office.
- [GLP-1 cost-effectiveness improves: 5 report notes ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/glp-1-cost-effectiveness-improves-5-report-notes/): A new analysis from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review has found that blockbuster GLP-1 drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly offer substantial health benefits and are a cost-effective option to treat obesity.
- [The tool that reduces patient falls by 30%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-tool-that-reduces-patient-falls-by-30/): Data from more than 750 hospitals indicate the most effective tool to reduce inpatient falls is sensor technology, according to a Sept.
- [Investors buy shuttered Pennsylvania hospital for $1M](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/investors-buy-shuttered-pennsylvania-hospital-for-1m/): A hospital that was part of now-shuttered Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health has been bought by a group of private investors for $1 million, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sept.
- [CMS again commits $75M to nursing home staffing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cms-again-commits-75m-to-nursing-home-staffing/): In a video posted Sept.
- [Meeting patients where they are: How health systems are using technology to transform care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/meeting-patients-where-they-are-how-health-systems-are-using-technology-to-transform-care/): Health systems are navigating rapid digital transformation, driven by patient expectations, workforce challenges and emerging technologies.
- [What 17 leaders wish medical students learned about cancer care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/what-17-leaders-wish-medical-students-learned-about-cancer-care/): As the medical school landscape shifts in response to federal pressures and new demands in the healthcare space — such as technological advancements, AI and drug innovations — new physicians may be entering the field with gaps in their clinical education and personal development.
- [Trump administration eyes crackdown on Chinese drugs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/trump-administration-eyes-crackdown-on-chinese-drugs/): The Trump administration is weighing the imposition of severe restrictions on medicines from China that, if enacted, could sow “chaos” in the U.S.
- [‘No such thing as too young to have cancer’: NYU Langone on early-onset trend](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/no-such-thing-as-too-young-to-have-cancer-nyu-langone-on-early-onset-trend/): Between 2010 and 2019, incidence rates of 14 cancers increased among individuals younger than 50, with “concerning increases” reported in colorectal and uterine cancer mortality.
- [Apple Watch debuts ‘powerful’ new health features](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/apple-watch-debuts-powerful-new-health-features/): The new Apple Watch will include “powerful” new features such as hypertension notifications and sleep scores to keep wearers healthy, the tech giant said.
- [HHS, FDA to crack down on drug ads](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hhs-fda-to-crack-down-on-drug-ads/): HHS and the FDA are taking measures to crack down on misleading pharmaceutical advertisements, including digital and broadcast drug ads.
- [HSHS CEO on vaccines: Americans, we are right to believe in them](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hshs-ceo-on-vaccines-americans-we-are-right-to-believe-in-them/): Nearly 8 in 10 U.S.
- [HHS commission releases strategy for children’s health: 5 takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hhs-commission-releases-strategy-for-childrens-health-5-takeaways/): The Make America Healthy Again Commission, a newly created advisory body under HHS, published a report on chronic disease and children’s health Sept.
- [GLP-1s tied to lowest fracture risk among diabetes drugs: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/glp-1s-tied-to-lowest-fracture-risk-among-diabetes-drugs-study/): A study found that GLP-1 drugs are associated with a lower risk of fractures, including hip and osteoporotic fractures.
- [Novartis to expand cardiovascular drug portfolio with $1.4B deal](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/novartis-to-expand-cardiovascular-drug-portfolio-with-1-4b-deal/): Novartis is acquiring biopharmaceutical company Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion to boost its cardiovascular pipeline.
- [Is technology moving the needle on clinician burnout?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/is-technology-moving-the-needle-on-clinician-burnout/): Clinician burnout remains one of the most urgent challenges in healthcare.
- [Infusion efficiency overhaul delivers $6M in annual ROI for Baptist MD Anderson](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/infusion-efficiency-overhaul-delivers-6m-in-annual-roi-for-baptist-md-anderson/): Infusion volumes at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville, Fla., have more than doubled since 2019, surpassing 39,000 annual visits, without adding a single chair.
- [As hospital closures accelerate, Medicaid cuts could worsen trend](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/as-hospital-closures-accelerate-medicaid-cuts-could-worsen-trend/): As hospitals continue to face mounting financial pressures, facility closures are ramping up as a direct consequence of those strains.
- [New York system saves nearly $250M from RN recruitment, retention](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/new-york-system-saves-nearly-250m-from-rn-recruitment-retention/): NYC Health + Hospitals, an 11-hospital system based in New York City, has saved nearly $250 million through strategies to reduce nurse turnover costs and reliance on travel staff.
- [12 fastest-growing healthcare jobs by 2034](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/12-fastest-growing-healthcare-jobs-by-2034/): The U.S. is expected to add 5.2 million jobs from 2024 to 2034, with healthcare and social assistance projected to see the largest job growth and be the fastest-growing industry sector in terms of employment at 8.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [FTC names associate director for healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/ftc-names-associate-director-for-healthcare/): Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson has named Emma Burnham associate director for healthcare in the Bureau of Competition.
- [Reimagining Cancer Screening: How Multi-Cancer Early Detection Is Reshaping Care for Aggressive Cancers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/reimagining-cancer-screening-how-multi-cancer-early-detection-is-reshaping-care-for-aggressive-cancers/): Imagine a future where some cancers are caught before symptoms appear, before they spread, before lives are disrupted.
- [Cut Energy Costs Without Cutting into Patient Investment](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cut-energy-costs-without-cutting-into-patient-investment/): Hospital CFOs are under increasing pressure to balance competing financial demands.
- [Feedback tool helps Ascension hit 82% retention](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/feedback-tool-helps-ascension-hit-82-retention/): Ascension has reached its highest nurse retention rate in five years — 81.96% — aided by its employee feedback tool Always On Listening, or AOL.
- [3 policy issues on pharmacy leaders’ radar](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/3-policy-issues-on-pharmacy-leaders-radar/): Pharmacy leaders are facing high-stakes challenges that could threaten the stability of drug access and affordability across the U.S.
- [Amazon expands $5 monthly prescription service to Texas](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/amazon-expands-5-monthly-prescription-service-to-texas/): Amazon Pharmacy has expanded its RxPass service to Texas, allowing Amazon Prime members in the state, including those on Medicare, to receive over 50 generic medications for $5 per month through the prescription subscription service.
- [10 states that vaccinate the most, fewest](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/10-states-that-vaccinate-the-most-fewest/): Massachusetts vaccinates the most out of any state, according to a WalletHub report published Sept.
- [Top-paid specialties for nurse practitioners, physician assistants](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/top-paid-specialties-for-nurse-practitioners-physician-assistants/): The “2025 Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Survey” draws data from more than 785 health systems, hospitals and physician group practices representing more than 155,000 certified anesthesiologist assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
- [Disaster preparedness in 2025: Recommendations for healthcare chief executive officers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/disaster-preparedness-in-2025-recommendations-for-healthcare-chief-executive-officers/): September is National Preparedness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies.
- [The next phase in virtual nursing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-next-phase-in-virtual-nursing/): The face of a nurse now appears on a television screen in hundreds of rooms at Jackson, Mich.-based Henry Ford Jackson Hospital.
- [Severe flu outbreaks across globe spur warnings for US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/severe-flu-outbreaks-across-globe-spur-warnings-for-us/): An influenza strain that emerged over the summer is causing unusually early and severe outbreaks in Canada, the U.K.
- [Government shutdown ends: 5 healthcare notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/government-shutdown-ends-5-healthcare-notes/): The longest government shutdown in American history ended Nov.
- [Where are Leapfrog’s 11 straight-‘A’ hospitals?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/where-are-leapfrogs-11-straight-a-hospitals/): Eleven U.S. hospitals have earned consecutive “A” safety grades from The Leapfrog Group since 2012.
- [Where are Leapfrog’s 23 ‘F’ hospitals?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/where-are-leapfrogs-23-f-hospitals/): Twenty-three U.S.
- [The Results Are In: AI in Healthcare is Working](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/the-results-are-in-ai-in-healthcare-is-working/): AI is no longer a buzzword in healthcare. It now has its own budget line, and it’s already reshaping the way healthcare gets delivered and paid for.
- [15 most, least charitable states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/15-most-least-charitable-states/): Wyoming is the most charitable state, with residents spending an average of 29 hours per year volunteering and donating nearly 4% of their adjusted gross income, according to WalletHub.
- [What healthcare CEOs say is missing from the access conversation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/what-healthcare-ceos-say-is-missing-from-the-access-conversation/): “Access to care” emerged as a top healthcare C-suite buzzword heading into 2025.
- [Hospital margins steady amid disruption: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/hospital-margins-steady-amid-disruption-5-notes/): Average nonprofit hospital margins hit 2.3% in September but performance was hampered by increased expenses and drug costs, according to Kaufman Hall’s “National Hospital Flash Report” released Nov.
- [The ROI on hospital at home](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/the-roi-on-hospital-at-home/): As health systems await a federal funding solution for hospital at home amid the government shutdown, healthcare organizations are mixed on the care model’s return on investment.
- [Group warns policy shift could strain rural primary care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/group-warns-policy-shift-could-strain-rural-primary-care/): 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.
- [Nearly 70% of hospitals now belong to a health system — 7 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/nearly-70-of-hospitals-now-belong-to-a-health-system-7-things-to-know/): The U.S. is home to nearly 400 health systems, with most hospitals now part of a larger network.
- [Hospital innovations creating value — without major new spending](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/hospital-innovations-creating-value-without-major-new-spending/): Innovation does not have to come with a hefty price tag, according to Thomas Jackiewicz, president of UChicago Medicine.
- [Systems retool career ladders to retain bedside nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/systems-retool-career-ladders-to-retain-bedside-nurses/): Health systems are modernizing career advancement programs to build internal pipelines and keep nurses at the bedside.
- [10 best quotes on AI from Becker’s CEO + CFO Roundtable](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/10-best-quotes-on-ai-from-beckers-ceo-cfo-roundtable/): AI is already transforming the healthcare workforce and the care they deliver, from automated coding to scribing — with many more advances coming soon.
- [How much competition does healthcare need?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/how-much-competition-does-healthcare-need/): A certain level of competition is healthy in hospitals and health systems, as it can lead to improved outcomes, lower costs and spark innovation.
- [Healthcare a key driver of 42,000 October private-sector job gains](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/healthcare-a-key-driver-of-42000-october-private-sector-job-gains/): 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.
- [Georgia’s cautionary tale for hospitals as Medicaid work rules expand](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/georgias-cautionary-tale-for-hospitals-as-medicaid-work-rules-expand/): 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.
- [7 planned hospital reopenings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/7-planned-hospital-reopenings/): Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert to Reopen
- [All 50 states apply for $50B Rural Health Transformation Program: 5 things to know ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/all-50-states-apply-for-50b-rural-health-transformation-program-5-things-to-know/): Every state has submitted applications seeking a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, according to CMS.
- [Why true transformation requires a single, reliable source of truth](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/why-true-transformation-requires-a-single-reliable-source-of-truth/): The healthcare industry is buzzing with the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
- [Joint Commission’s Accreditation 360 reimagines healthcare quality through clarity, data and collaboration](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/joint-commissions-accreditation-360-reimagines-healthcare-quality-through-clarity-data-and-collaboration/): As healthcare organizations navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny and mounting administrative burdens, Joint Commission is spearheading an evolution in accreditation and certification.
- [PA, NP median pay by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/pa-np-median-pay-by-state/): 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.
- [Tech isn’t healthcare’s silver bullet](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/tech-isnt-healthcares-silver-bullet/): Health system leaders agree on one thing: technology won’t fix healthcare’s biggest problems on its own.
- [Despite layoffs, work-life balance still top priority for Gen Z](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/despite-layoffs-work-life-balance-still-top-priority-for-gen-z/): Despite layoffs and a slowing job market, Generation Z employees are still prioritizing work-life balance, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov.
- [10 hospitals with the highest, lowest rates of birth complications](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/10-hospitals-with-the-highest-lowest-rates-of-birth-complications/): Bloomington, Ill.-based St. Joseph Medical Center has the lowest rate of complications during delivery of any hospital in the nation, CMS found.
- [Top 12 healthcare cyberthreats](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/top-12-healthcare-cyberthreats/): 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.
- [20 best places to retire: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/20-best-places-to-retire-us-news/): For the first time since 2020, quality of life emerged as the most influential factor in U.S.
- [10 most, least overweight and obese states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/10-most-least-overweight-and-obese-states/): West Virginia topped WalletHub’s 2025 ranking of the most overweight and obese states in the U.S., published Nov.
- [Why baby boomers are the most digitally engaged patients](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/why-baby-boomers-are-the-most-digitally-engaged-patients/): 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.
- [Which healthcare settings are hiring more, fewer physicians: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/which-healthcare-settings-are-hiring-more-fewer-physicians-report/): 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.
- [Healthcare ranks No. 2 for employee control over career: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/healthcare-ranks-no-2-for-employee-control-over-career-linkedin/): Fifty-seven percent of healthcare workers feel in control of their careers, compared to 45% of U.S.
- [10 best, worst states to find a job ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/10-best-worst-states-to-find-a-job/): Massachusetts is the best state to find a job and West Virginia is the worst, according to WalletHub’s 2025 ranking, published Oct.
- [Virtual nursing 2.0: How hospitals are moving beyond the pandemic playbook](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/virtual-nursing-2-0-how-hospitals-are-moving-beyond-the-pandemic-playbook/): 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.
- [Top 50 hospitals for surgical care: Healthgrades](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/top-50-hospitals-for-surgical-care-healthgrades/): Florida has 15 hospitals included on Healthgrades’ Top 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Care list, the most of any U.S. state.
- [The profound shift ahead for health system C-suites](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/the-profound-shift-ahead-for-health-system-c-suites/): Hospital leaders are bracing for another wave of consolidation that could eclipse the sweeping changes spurred by the Affordable Care Act more than a decade ago.
- [U.S. Hospitals Are Leading Efforts to Get Patients the Medicines they Need](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/u-s-hospitals-are-leading-efforts-to-get-patients-the-medicines-they-need/): If you undergo a surgical procedure or are admitted to a hospital for nearly any serious condition, you are likely to receive various generic injectable drugs.
- [How Tariffs Impact Health Systems](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/how-tariffs-impact-health-systems/): Since spring 2025, the U.S.
- [Concierge medicine, explained](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/concierge-medicine-explained/): Health systems are increasingly offering concierge medicine, a market predicted to be worth over $13 billion by 2030.
- [57% of Americans ‘very concerned’ about rising healthcare costs: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/57-of-americans-very-concerned-about-rising-healthcare-costs-survey/): Nearly 60% of Americans are extremely concerned or very concerned about rising healthcare costs, according to a recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
- [Nursing leaders urge caution as AI spreads in care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/nursing-leaders-urge-caution-as-ai-spreads-in-care/): Hospitals are racing to integrate AI into daily care, but some nursing leaders worry the pace is outstripping the profession’s ability to understand the technology.
- [225 quietest hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/225-quietest-hospitals/): Becker’s has compiled a list of the hospitals with a CMS five-star rating for quietness.
- [Hospital labor expenses steady but wage pressures persist](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/hospital-labor-expenses-steady-but-wage-pressures-persist/): Hospital labor costs held steady in August, signaling potential stabilization after several years of volatility.
- [Beyond the Budget Cuts: How Community Hospitals Can Stop Referring Revenue Away](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/beyond-the-budget-cuts-how-community-hospitals-can-stop-referring-revenue-away/): Community hospitals are at a crossroads.
- [States most, least prepared for aging population: Seniorly](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/states-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.
- [Maternal mortality rates, by state ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/maternal-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.
- [Health systems prioritize primary care, plan AI expansion](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/health-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.
- [‘Immediate and profound’: How hospital closures affect rural communities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/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.
- [Georgia greenlights $1.1B Wellstar hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/georgia-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.
- [10 safest cities in the US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/10-safest-cities-in-the-us/): Warwick, R.I., is the safest city in the U.S., according to a new analysis published by WalletHub.
- [40% of US workers have ‘quality’ jobs: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/40-of-us-workers-have-quality-jobs-study/): Two in 5 U.S.
- [FDA approves 1-minute HIV self-test](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/fda-approves-1-minute-hiv-self-test/): The FDA has approved bioLytical Laboratories’ Insti HIV self test.
- [56 hospitals with the lowest readmission rates by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/56-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.
- [Where hospital cyber defenses fall short](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/where-hospital-cyber-defenses-fall-short/): Cyberattacks on hospitals are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated and more disruptive.
- [Turbulent virus season ahead for hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/turbulent-virus-season-ahead-for-hospitals/): Although the CDC projects a moderate influenza season this winter, U.S.
- [Top 10 health IT investment priorities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/top-10-health-it-investment-priorities/): Revenue cycle management tops the list of healthcare providers’ top IT investment strategies, Bain & Co. and KLAS Research reported.
- [‘Defining moment’ for nursing: Joint Commission recognizes staffing as quality component](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/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.
- [Healthcare cybersecurity so far in 2025: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/healthcare-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.
- [Denials are the new normal: How hospitals can stop playing defense](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/denials-are-the-new-normal-how-hospitals-can-stop-playing-defense/): Payer denials are increasing in frequency and complexity, costing healthcare organizations billions.
- [Nurse leaders in their own words: How the CNO role is evolving](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/nurse-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.
- [Georgia health system warns of scam phone calls](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/georgia-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.
- [Healthcare ransomware attacks shift from hospitals to vendors: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/healthcare-ransomware-attacks-shift-from-hospitals-to-vendors-report/): Ransomware attacks on U.S.
- [Take back our hospitals: Physicians call to repeal ACA section 6001](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/take-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.
- [Viewpoint: Pediatric nurses are vital to healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/viewpoint-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.
- [How leaders rework systems to retain nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/how-leaders-rework-systems-to-retain-nurses/): Hospitals are in a bind.
- [Healthcare ranks among industries with most stressed managers: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/healthcare-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.
- [20 most prescribed medications: GoodRx](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/20-most-prescribed-medications-goodrx/): GoodRx, a platform that tracks prescription drug use and prices across thousands of U.S.
- [‘A victim of our own success’: Vaccine mandate purge worries Florida pediatricians](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/a-victim-of-our-own-success-vaccine-mandate-purge-worries-florida-pediatricians/): By early December, Florida’s health department could revoke several vaccine requirements for school children.
- [8 predictors of nurse burnout — and how leaders can help](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/8-predictors-of-nurse-burnout-and-how-leaders-can-help/): Routinely leaving late is the strongest predictor of nurse burnout and is linked to a 2% to 6% higher turnover rate compared to teams on which nurses leave on time, according to a new report from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and Laudio.
- [5 leaders consider new benchmark for hospital quality](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/5-leaders-consider-new-benchmark-for-hospital-quality/): A recently published study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons proposed using the rate of discharge to post-acute care facilities after major surgery as a benchmark for hospital quality.
- [A new model to measure nursing’s economic value ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/a-new-model-to-measure-nursings-economic-value/): A new model aims to help hospitals and health system leaders better understand how investments in nursing contribute to financial sustainability.
- [‘Bigger than politics’: Former surgeons general warn of instability at HHS](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/bigger-than-politics-former-surgeons-general-warn-of-instability-at-hhs/): A bipartisan group of former U.S. surgeons general expressed significant concern in HHS Secretary Robert F.
- [Connecticut joins nurse licensure compact ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/connecticut-joins-nurse-licensure-compact/): Connecticut has officially implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing eligible nurses to practice in 43 jurisdictions with one multi-state license.
- [US News’ Best Children’s Hospitals 2025-26 Honor Roll ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/us-news-best-childrens-hospitals-2025-26-honor-roll/): U.S. News & World Report released the 2025-26 edition of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” an annual evaluation of pediatric hospitals by specialty and by location, on Oct.
- [10 safest US states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/10-safest-us-states/): Vermont ranks as the safest state in the U.S., based on neighborhood safety, a low unemployment rate and safe roads, according to an Oct.
- [Exact Sciences Launches Cancerguard™, First-of-Its-Kind Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/exact-sciences-launches-cancerguard-first-of-its-kind-multi-cancer-early-detection-blood-test/): MADISON, Wis., September 10, 2025 — Exact Sciences Corp.
- [CDC adopts revised vaccine recommendations](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/cdc-adopts-revised-vaccine-recommendations/): On Oct. 6, the CDC revised its immunization schedule guidance on vaccines for COVID-19 and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox).
- [The digital strategy rural hospitals are betting on](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/the-digital-strategy-rural-hospitals-are-betting-on/): When patients in Colorado’s remote Yampa Valley needed to see a specialist, the trip often meant a daylong journey to Denver: hours on the road, time off work, child care arrangements and the cost of gas.
- [Ransomware variant poses heightened risk to hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/ransomware-variant-poses-heightened-risk-to-hospitals/): The Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a nonprofit organization that works to share threat intelligence, issued an alert Oct.
- [Nurse-led ED intervention cuts older adult admissions by 11.6%: 3 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/nurse-led-ed-intervention-cuts-older-adult-admissions-by-11-6-3-notes/): A nurse-led intervention at San Francisco-based UCSF Health cut inpatient admissions of older adults by 11.6%, according to a study published Aug.
- [For Lasting Results, Commit to Building Leadership Muscle](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/for-lasting-results-commit-to-building-leadership-muscle/): Occasionally, Healthcare Plus Solutions Group® (HPSG) has organizations call us asking for help to accomplish a goal or hit a specific metric.
- [Protect your patients … and your OR staff.](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/10/protect-your-patients-and-your-or-staff/): Julie Greenhalgh, RN, BSN, CNOR, never smoked a day in her life, yet she has all the tell-tale signs that will plague her for the rest of her life: the raspy voice, the chest-deep rattle when she inhales, and the persistent cough.
- [How to Achieve Short-Term Workforce Stability While Executing a Long-Term Strategy](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/how-to-achieve-short-term-workforce-stability-while-executing-a-long-term-strategy/): By 2037, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a shortfall of more than 187,000 physicians across 31 of 35 specialties, including notable gaps in anesthesia, obstetrics and gynecology, and radiology.
- [11 healthcare roles that do not require a college degree](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/11-healthcare-roles-that-do-not-require-a-college-degree/): A number of healthcare roles do not require education beyond a high school diploma, with average annual salaries reaching up to $72,415.
- [The 43 rural emergency hospitals, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-43-rural-emergency-hospitals-by-state/): Forty-three hospitals across 18 states have converted to rural emergency facilities since the law that created the designation took effect in January 2023, according to data from CMS.
- [10 best small cities for health, affordability](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/10-best-small-cities-for-health-affordability/): Carmel, Ind., is the best small city to live in the U.S., largely due to economic and health factors, according to a Sept. 30 list from WalletHub.
- [What frustrates clinicians most about EHRs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/what-frustrates-clinicians-most-about-ehrs/): EHR-related complaints that may sound mundane — extra clicks, redundant alarms and data scattered across systems — can reflect a deeper frustration, healthcare executives told Becker’s.
- [The hidden costs of inventory: How health systems can drive savings + resilience](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/the-hidden-costs-of-inventory-how-health-systems-can-drive-savings-resilience/): Healthcare supply chains are under immense pressure, and the stakes in 2025 are higher than ever.
- [Physician consolidation by the numbers: 5 key takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/physician-consolidation-by-the-numbers-5-key-takeaways/): Independent physician practices are disappearing as hospitals, payers, corporate entities and private equity expand their reach, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
- [FDA approves breast cancer drug](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/fda-approves-breast-cancer-drug/): The FDA has approved Eli Lilly’s imlunestrant, an oral estrogen receptor antagonist, for the treatment of adults with estrogen receptor positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has progressed following at least one prior endocrine therapy.
- [Where health system leaders are doubling down — and pulling back — on hiring](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/where-health-system-leaders-are-doubling-down-and-pulling-back-on-hiring/): Healthcare was one of only a few sectors that posted job gains in August, adding more jobs than the overall economy.
- [Severe pediatric flu complication on the rise, CDC data suggests](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/severe-pediatric-flu-complication-on-the-rise-cdc-data-suggests/): Cases of a rare, flu-related complication that causes brain inflammation among children are on the rise, a new CDC report suggests.
- [Best use of emerging tech in health systems from 50 leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/best-use-of-emerging-tech-in-health-systems-from-50-leaders/): Emerging technologies have greatly improved efficiency at most health systems.
- [A hidden crisis: Nurse suicide in America](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/a-hidden-crisis-nurse-suicide-in-america/): Nursing is a profession built on compassion and resilience, yet beneath its caring façade lies a growing mental health crisis.
- [Cancer deaths to increase 74% by 2050: 8 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/cancer-deaths-to-increase-74-by-2050-8-things-to-know/): There will be an expected 18.6 million deaths from cancer in 2050, up from 10.4 million cancer deaths in 2023, according to a study published Sept.
- [40+ hospitals, health systems named best employers for company culture: Forbes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/40-hospitals-health-systems-named-best-employers-for-company-culture-forbes/): Dozens of hospitals and health systems were included on Forbes‘ inaugural list of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture.
- [63% of US adults at risk for cardiovascular disease: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/63-of-us-adults-at-risk-for-cardiovascular-disease-5-notes/): Between August 2021 and August 2023, 63.6% of adults in the U.S. had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, according to a data brief published Sept.
- [ACA tax credit sunset could cost healthcare $32B: Analysis](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/aca-tax-credit-sunset-could-cost-healthcare-32b-analysis/): Hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers could lose more than $32.1 billion in revenue in 2026 should Congress allow ACA tax credits to expire at the end of 2025, according to a new Urban Institute analysis published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- [15 best employers for healthcare workers: Forbes ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/15-best-employers-for-healthcare-workers-forbes/): Forbes has recognized 250 healthcare organizations on its inaugural list of America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals, published Sept.
- [Hospital price mark-ups for elective surgery: 7 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/hospital-price-mark-ups-for-elective-surgery-7-things-to-know/): Hospitals that charge patients and insurers the highest markups for common surgeries also tend to deliver worse outcomes, according to new research published in JAMA Surgery.
- [Amazon One Medical unveils new patient services](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/09/amazon-one-medical-unveils-new-patient-services/): Amazon’s primary care provider One Medical has launched new appointments nationwide for patients experiencing symptoms related to perimenopause and menopause.
- [The top-recommended hospitals in every state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-top-recommended-hospitals-in-every-state/): Becker’s has compiled a list of the hospitals patients are most likely to recommend in every state using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data from CMS.
- [756 hospitals at risk of closure, state by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/756-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-state-by-state/): Seven hundred fifty-six rural U.S.
- [The metrics CEOs are prioritizing in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-metrics-ceos-are-prioritizing-in-2026/): As hospital and health system CEOs work to advance key strategies in 2026 — from ambulatory investments to artificial intelligence integration — which numbers are guiding them?
- [‘People are stepping into roles that didn’t even exist a year ago’: How AI is reshaping revenue cycle teams](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/people-are-stepping-into-roles-that-didnt-even-exist-a-year-ago-how-ai-is-reshaping-revenue-cycle-teams/): Revenue cycle teams are entering a new era: one shaped by AI, intelligent tools and emerging roles.
- [The employee benefit US workers value most: Indeed ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-employee-benefit-us-workers-value-most-indeed/): Health insurance, vacation time and paid sick leave are the most-valued employee benefits among U.S. workers, according to a Dec.
- [How healthcare executives are managing value-based care challenges](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/how-healthcare-executives-are-managing-value-based-care-challenges/): Becker’s asked five health system strategic leaders about the role value-based care plays in their system’s strategic planning and how they’re managing the challenges it presents.
- [Hospitals warn of systemic strain as healthcare approaches 20% of GDP](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-warn-of-systemic-strain-as-healthcare-approaches-20-of-gdp/): U.S. healthcare spending is on a path that has finance leaders increasingly uneasy.
- [10 biggest healthcare data breaches of 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-biggest-healthcare-data-breaches-of-2025/): More than 20 million people were affected by the 10 largest healthcare data breaches reported to the federal government in 2025, TechTarget reported Dec.
- [Most Americans will face unaffordable healthcare, study suggests](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/most-americans-will-face-unaffordable-healthcare-study-suggests/): A new analysis suggests the cumulative financial strain of healthcare is more widespread than annual snapshots indicate — and most Americans will experience unaffordable costs during their lifetimes.
- [Nurse turnover rates, by specialty ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/nurse-turnover-rates-by-specialty/): Seven nursing specialties reported turnover rates above the national average in 2024, according to the NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report.
- [Health system C-suites of the future: 12 trends](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/health-system-c-suites-of-the-future-12-trends/): Health system C-suites are approaching a pivotal inflection point.
- [14 states with high virus levels](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/14-states-with-high-virus-levels/): Respiratory virus season is in full gear, with flu admissions rising quickly in recent weeks, according to the latest national data from the CDC.
- [Hospital quality in 2025: 3 areas of progress, 3 still facing challenges](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospital-quality-in-2025-3-areas-of-progress-3-still-facing-challenges/): New findings from the American Hospital Association highlight where hospital quality strategies are gaining traction — and where leaders say additional support is needed.
- [5 hospital pharmacy risks to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/5-hospital-pharmacy-risks-to-know/): 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.
- [Hospitals faced tariff risk, rising supply costs in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-faced-tariff-risk-rising-supply-costs-in-2025/): Tariff uncertainty, inflation, and persistent import dependencies shaped hospital supply chain decisions throughout 2025, according to the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Environmental Scan.
- [Hospital nurse turnover, vacancy rates by year](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospital-nurse-turnover-vacancy-rates-by-year/): 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.
- [Hospitals face highest data breach costs: AHA report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-face-highest-data-breach-costs-aha-report/): 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.
- [Why 40-somethings are heading back to school](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/why-40-somethings-are-heading-back-to-school/): 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.
- [Hospital sale-leasebacks linked to higher closure risk: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospital-sale-leasebacks-linked-to-higher-closure-risk-study/): A study published Dec.
- [Why Healthcare Transformation Keeps Stalling—And How to Fix It Fast](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/why-healthcare-transformation-keeps-stalling-and-how-to-fix-it-fast/): Every healthcare executive in America knows the numbers by heart. Costs are climbing faster than reimbursements. Labor shortages drag on.
- [FDA approves prostate cancer drug](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/fda-approves-prostate-cancer-drug/): The FDA has granted full approval to rucaparib (Rubraca) for adults with BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- [Meet the Gen Z CEO leading a Montana critical access hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/meet-the-gen-z-ceo-leading-a-montana-critical-access-hospital/): At just 26, Billy Rogers has stepped into his first hospital CEO role.
- [How to lead health system staff through transformation and uncertainty from 5 Strategic Leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/how-to-lead-health-system-staff-through-transformation-and-uncertainty-from-5-strategic-leaders/): 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.
- [79% of nurses lose time to unproductive charting: KLAS](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/79-of-nurses-lose-time-to-unproductive-charting-klas/): 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.
- [HCA chief nursing executive dies at 50](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hca-chief-nursing-executive-dies-at-50/): 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.
- [A payer-provider view on ultra high-cost drugs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/a-payer-provider-view-on-ultra-high-cost-drugs/): Ultra high-cost drugs, or medications that cost more than $1 million per patient, can be life-altering treatments.
- [10 ‘neediest’ US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-neediest-us-cities/): 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.
- [Fee-based primary care on the rise: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/fee-based-primary-care-on-the-rise-4-notes/): Concierge and direct primary care models are rapidly reshaping the U.S. primary care landscape.
- [Healthcare groups urge lawmakers to pass bill to grow nurse faculty ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/healthcare-groups-urge-lawmakers-to-pass-bill-to-grow-nurse-faculty/): 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.
- [Nearly 1 in 4 Americans believe US healthcare is in ‘crisis’: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/nearly-1-in-4-americans-believe-us-healthcare-is-in-crisis-gallup/): More Americans than ever believe the U.S. healthcare system is in crisis, according to a Dec. 15 article from Gallup.
- [Leapfrog’s 151 top hospitals in 2025 ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/leapfrogs-151-top-hospitals-in-2025/): The Leapfrog Group has published its annual list of top-performing hospitals, recognizing 151 hospitals in the U.S.
- [University Hospitals scales virtual nursing model to full-hospital deployment](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/university-hospitals-scales-virtual-nursing-model-to-full-hospital-deployment/): Hospitals nationwide are facing intensifying staffing pressures, rising patient acuity and growing demands for more sustainable care delivery.
- [5 predictions on hospital financial performance in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/5-predictions-on-hospital-financial-performance-in-2026/): Fitch Ratings has issued a ‘neutral’ outlook for the U.S.
- [​​Half of US hospitals to adopt generative AI by end of 2025, study finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/half-of-us-hospitals-to-adopt-generative-ai-by-end-of-2025-study-finds/): Nearly one in three nonfederal acute care hospitals in the U.S.
- [15 top cities for early-career physicians ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/15-top-cities-for-early-career-physicians/): 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.
- [FDA weighs black box warning for COVID-19 vaccines: 7 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/fda-weighs-black-box-warning-for-covid-19-vaccines-7-notes/): 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.
- [Preparing for the storm: How 3 health systems are making capacity work harder](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/preparing-for-the-storm-how-3-health-systems-are-making-capacity-work-harder/): In the One Big Beautiful Bill era, capacity is more than a scheduling concern for hospitals and health systems — it’s a financial imperative.
- [From -1.6% to 16.8%: 20 health systems ranked by operating margins](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/from-1-6-to-16-8-20-health-systems-ranked-by-operating-margins/): As policy uncertainties, reimbursement pressures and continued cuts and closures weigh on hospitals and health systems heading into 2026, third-quarter operating margins showed wide variation.
- [The financial impact of healthcare ransomware attacks: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-financial-impact-of-healthcare-ransomware-attacks-4-notes/): Healthcare continues to pay a significant financial toll for ransomware attacks, the U.S. Treasury Department found.
- [Medical school enrollment surpasses 100,000 in 2025: AAMC](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/medical-school-enrollment-surpasses-100000-in-2025-aamc/): More than 100,000 students were enrolled in U.S. medical schools in 2025 — a record high, according to data released Dec.
- [10 health systems named among America’s best companies: Forbes ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-health-systems-named-among-americas-best-companies-forbes/): Ten hospitals and health systems were included on Forbes’ “America’s Best Companies 2026″ list, published Nov.
- [Best hospitals for maternity care: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/best-hospitals-for-maternity-care-us-news/): U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings Dec.
- [US News’ 147 maternity care access hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/us-news-147-maternity-care-access-hospitals/): U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings Dec.
- [The employee gap fueling disengagement: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-employee-gap-fueling-disengagement-gallup/): Workers with a strong sense of purpose in their roles are more likely to be engaged at work and less likely to feel burned out or search for a new job.
- [10 most caring US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-most-caring-us-cities/): Virginia Beach, Va., is the most caring U.S.
- [Blood pressure medication recalled: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/blood-pressure-medication-recalled-what-to-know/): The FDA has recalled multiple lots of a blood pressure medication sold under the brand name Ziac, according to a Dec. 6 report from USA Today.
- [More than 2 in 5 US primary care physicians report burnout: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/more-than-2-in-5-us-primary-care-physicians-report-burnout-survey/): More than 2 in 5 primary care physicians in the U.S. are experiencing burnout, according to survey results published Nov. 20 by the Commonwealth Fund.
- [Virtual nursing draws mixed reviews from bedside nurses: 5 study findings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/virtual-nursing-draws-mixed-reviews-from-bedside-nurses-5-study-findings/): Many bedside nurses say virtual nursing programs have not eased their workload, though a slight majority have seen benefits to patient care when working alongside virtual nurses, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia.
- [747 hospitals patients would highly recommend](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/747-hospitals-patients-would-highly-recommend/): Becker’s has compiled a list of the hospitals patients would recommend in each state using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data from CMS.
- [3 states with high virus levels](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/3-states-with-high-virus-levels/): Colorado, Louisiana and New York — particularly New York City — reported high levels of flu-like illness during the week ending Nov.
- [10 states with biggest unemployment decreases](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-states-with-biggest-unemployment-decreases/): Unemployment claims nationwide have remained largely stable over the past year.
- [253 5-star hospitals: Forbes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/253-5-star-hospitals-forbes/): Forbes launched an inaugural quality ranking of U.S. general acute care hospitals Dec.
- [Top 12 reasons patients don’t trust their healthcare providers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/top-12-reasons-patients-dont-trust-their-healthcare-providers/): One in 4 patients say they’ve switched healthcare providers because they lost trust in them, marketing agency Monigle found.
- [5 top workforce opportunities for health systems: AHA](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/5-top-workforce-opportunities-for-health-systems-aha/): The American Hospital Association outlined five key ways hospitals and health systems are reimagining their workforce strategies in a Dec. 3 report.
- [The looming challenge on revenue cycle leaders’ minds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-looming-challenge-on-revenue-cycle-leaders-minds/): Major shifts to Medicaid eligibility and financing set to take effect under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2026 and beyond are emerging as a top concern for revenue cycle leaders, who say the changes could further intensify financial pressures.
- [Medical organizations form infection prevention group to fill CDC gap: 3 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/medical-organizations-form-infection-prevention-group-to-fill-cdc-gap-3-notes/): Months after the CDC eliminated its infection control committee, two epidemiology organizations have created the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group.
- [The Medicare Advantage question hospitals want answered](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/the-medicare-advantage-question-hospitals-want-answered/): With Medicare Advantage enrollment approaching 55% of eligible beneficiaries, health systems across the country are grappling with a question that’s gone largely unaddressed in policy circles: What happens if the healthcare providers best equipped to care for seniors can no longer afford to participate?
- [Hospitals lose ‘room to maneuver’ as revenue gap widens](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-lose-room-to-maneuver-as-revenue-gap-widens/): The revenue gap between large and small health systems grew starker this year, and will likely continue to widen as HR-1 takes effect in the coming years.
- [Unemployment gap between high school, college graduates nears 40-year low ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/unemployment-gap-between-high-school-college-graduates-nears-40-year-low/): The unemployment gap between high school and college graduates ages 22-27 has reached its lowest level since the late 1970s, according to a Nov.
- [Hospitals struggle as clinical-financial gap widens](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-struggle-as-clinical-financial-gap-widens/): Health systems nationwide are navigating a growing number of payer-driven rules that influence how care is delivered, documented and reimbursed.
- [Shaping culture: A practical framework for teams](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/shaping-culture-a-practical-framework-for-teams/): Culture profoundly shapes organizational, team and individual performance.
- [Flu activity low but rising: 5 virus updates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/flu-activity-low-but-rising-5-virus-updates/): Flu activity remains low but is increasing nationwide, particularly among children and young adults, new CDC data shows.
- [4 forces confronting health systems in 2025: McKinsey ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/4-forces-confronting-health-systems-in-2025-mckinsey/): Health systems across the U.S. are being confronted by four major forces during a “new era of unprecedented uncertainty,” according to a Nov.
- [Rural US loses 1 in 9 family physicians in 6 years, study finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/rural-us-loses-1-in-9-family-physicians-in-6-years-study-finds/): The rural family physician workforce shrank 11% from 2017 to 2023, marking an ongoing shortage in primary care access, according to a study published in November in the Annals of Family Medicine.
- [Health systems project big returns from EHR investments](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/health-systems-project-big-returns-from-ehr-investments/): Several health systems are making major bets on new Epic EHR platforms and expect to see substantial returns, with leaders pointing to application consolidation, efficiency gains and reduced administrative burden as key drivers.
- [Hospital at home works in rural areas: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospital-at-home-works-in-rural-areas-6-notes/): Hospital-at-home treatment could be one way to “solve the rural healthcare crisis,” researchers from Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham say.
- [Incarcerated patient escapes Georgia hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/incarcerated-patient-escapes-georgia-hospital/): The Rockdale County (Ga.)
- [Why health systems send employees to Epic](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/why-health-systems-send-employees-to-epic/): While Epic sends staffers to health systems to educate healthcare workers about its EHR, the dynamic goes the other way as well.
- [Nearly 1 in 10 Americans have received a cancer diagnosis: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/nearly-1-in-10-americans-have-received-a-cancer-diagnosis-gallup/): At 9.7%, Gallup polling has found the highest-ever percentage of U.S. adults who report receiving a cancer diagnosis, the analytics firm said Nov.
- [Most expensive hospital therapy lines across 12 countries](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/most-expensive-hospital-therapy-lines-across-12-countries/): On average, oncology accounts for about 70% of hospital drug expenditures, according to IQVIA data covering the U.S. and 11 other countries.
- [We Cannot Recruit Our Way Out of Burnout: Lessons from Historical Staff Shortages](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/we-cannot-recruit-our-way-out-of-burnout-lessons-from-historical-staff-shortages/): Two years ago news coverage warned of a national nursing shortage.
- [Nonprofit, for-profit health system financial divide grows](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/nonprofit-for-profit-health-system-financial-divide-grows/): The financial performance of some of the country’s largest nonprofit and for-profit health systems in the third quarter of 2025 reflects a sector making cautious strides toward stability, but not all players are on equal footing.
- [Hospital stuck in ‘data rich, information poor’ reality](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/hospital-stuck-in-data-rich-information-poor-reality/): Artificial intelligence is only as strong as the data behind it.
- [How hospitals are ‘raising the bar’ in retention](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/how-hospitals-are-raising-the-bar-in-retention/): Hospitals and health systems have consistently focused on recruiting top talent.
- [Percentage of primary care physicians, by subspecialty](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/percentage-of-primary-care-physicians-by-subspecialty/): Internal medicine represents the largest primary care specialty, with 41.4% of all primary care physicians practicing in the field, according to new data from KFF.
- [US drug expenditure far outpaces other countries: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/us-drug-expenditure-far-outpaces-other-countries-report/): As the U.S. works several levers to lower drug pricing, such as Medicare negotiating costs with drugmakers and President Donald Trump launching TrumpRx, a report from the IQVIA Institute quantified how much more the U.S.
- [The healthcare workforce in 12 numbers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/the-healthcare-workforce-in-12-numbers/): The workforce is top of mind for hospitals and health systems across the U.S., particularly as they focus on recruitment and retention amid today’s industry pressures.
- [Healthcare employment trends up: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/healthcare-employment-trends-up-5-notes/): The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its September jobs report Nov. 20 — the agency’s first since the 43-day government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov.
- [The state of rural primary care: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/the-state-of-rural-primary-care-4-notes/): Nearly 40% of adults living in rural areas have turned to emergency departments for care that could have been handled in a primary care setting, pointing to persistent issues rural residents face when trying to access routine healthcare services, according to a Commonwealth Fund report published Nov.
- [3 trends complicating flu season for hospitals this year](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/3-trends-complicating-flu-season-for-hospitals-this-year/): As signs point to a more-severe-than-normal flu season this year, hospitals might see more congestion among patients and in physical capacity.
- [Best, worst US states for healthcare cost, quality, access: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/best-worst-us-states-for-healthcare-cost-quality-access-gallup/): The overall U.S. healthcare system received a “C” grade from a broad survey of U.S.
- [Healthcare job postings hover just above COVID-era baseline: 7 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/healthcare-job-postings-hover-just-above-covid-era-baseline-7-notes/): Healthcare job postings have declined 8.5% year over year as of Oct. 10, according to a third-quarter report from Indeed’s Hiring Lab.
- [High-performing nursing homes, by state: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/high-performing-nursing-homes-by-state-us-news/): California has the greatest number of high-performing nursing homes in the U.S., followed by Florida, according to U.S.
- [From crisis mode to control: Building a resilient workforce strategy](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/from-crisis-mode-to-control-building-a-resilient-workforce-strategy/): The persistent healthcare talent crisis has evolved from cyclical labor shortages to a structural workforce problem that’s reshaping how hospitals and health systems operate.
- [10 big themes for AI in healthcare heading into 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/10-big-themes-for-ai-in-healthcare-heading-into-2026/): Artificial intelligence has evolved from experimental pilots to a foundational part of healthcare strategy.
- [How accurate are smartwatches for detecting Afib?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/how-accurate-are-smartwatches-for-detecting-afib/): Several smartwatches claim to be able to detect atrial fibrillation in wearers. But how accurate are they?
- [Margins, missions and medicine: Driving transformation without compromising care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/margins-missions-and-medicine-driving-transformation-without-compromising-care/): Healthcare operates in a highly disrupted market with multiple headwinds, including ongoing staff shortages, financial pressures, policy and regulatory changes and cyber threats.
- [Piedmont hospital names chief medical officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/piedmont-hospital-names-chief-medical-officer/): Jeff Metts, MD, has been named chief medical officer of Piedmont Newton Hospital in Covington, Ga.
- [Hospital mortality improvements resume after COVID-19: Study ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/hospital-mortality-improvements-resume-after-covid-19-study/): Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality is once again improving at U.S.
- [Healthcare wage gaps narrowed after COVID-19: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/healthcare-wage-gaps-narrowed-after-covid-19-study/): U.S. healthcare wage disparities modestly narrowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis of wage data.
- [Hospital costs see double-digit growth: Vizient](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/hospital-costs-see-double-digit-growth-vizient/): In the past 12 months, community hospitals experienced a 10.6% increase in the average direct cost per case, while academic medical centers saw an 11.5% higher cost, according to a report from Sg2, a Vizient company.
- [‘Not a single magic bullet:’ Why some hospitals thrive, others stand still](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/not-a-single-magic-bullet-why-some-hospitals-thrive-others-stand-still/): Kaufman Hall’s recent “National Hospital Flash Report” found the gap between high- and low-performing hospitals has continued to widen this year, despite a steady overall financial performance for nonprofit hospitals.
- [US report card on preterm birth rates: Grades by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/us-report-card-on-preterm-birth-rates-grades-by-state/): The U.S. again received a “D+” grade in March of Dimes’ annual report card on maternal and infant health.
- [10 health systems with the most ‘A,’ straight-‘A’ hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/10-health-systems-with-the-most-a-straight-a-hospitals/): Of the 358 hospitals that have earned Leapfrog’s “A” safety grade for at least two consecutive years, 95% are part of a health system.
- [Is healthcare in an AI bubble?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/is-healthcare-in-an-ai-bubble/): Is healthcare caught in an AI bubble — a phenomenon in which enthusiasm inflates the perceived value of a technology far beyond its real-world worth?
- [The big payoff: How enhanced credentialing + payer enrollment drive provider revenue](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/the-big-payoff-how-enhanced-credentialing-payer-enrollment-drive-provider-revenue/): Hospitals and health systems face relentless financial pressure, yet many continue to forfeit revenue due to outdated and inefficient credentialing and payer enrollment processes.
- [Profitability gap widens for top, bottom performing hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/profitability-gap-widens-for-top-bottom-performing-hospitals/): Kaufman Hall, a Vizient company, gathers data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. to measure profitability and financial performance monthly.
- [Patient access: Where medical groups can pull ahead](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/patient-access-where-medical-groups-can-pull-ahead/): A recent Kaufman Hall “Physician Flash Report” for the third quarter of 2025 found that medical group investment dropped in September, a first drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [1 in 4 healthcare workers considering industry exit: Indeed](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/1-in-4-healthcare-workers-considering-industry-exit-indeed/): In 2025, 2 in 5 healthcare workers report feeling their role is unsustainable, and 1 in 4 are considering leaving the industry entirely, according to Indeed’s “Pulse of Healthcare 2025” report.
- [By rethinking short-stay care, Boston hospital cuts ED boarding time by 42%](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/11/by-rethinking-short-stay-care-boston-hospital-cuts-ed-boarding-time-by-42/): Several years ago, Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital recognized it was facing a growing challenge with emergency department boarding, particularly among general medicine patients.
- [What Cedars-Sinai’s near-miss analysis reveals about ICU patient safety](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/what-cedars-sinais-near-miss-analysis-reveals-about-icu-patient-safety/): Nurses’ clinical intervention and barcode medication scanning emerged as the two biggest safeguards preventing patient harm in intensive care units at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai, according to a study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
- [18 states push for reinstatement of SNF minimum staffing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/18-states-push-for-reinstatement-of-snf-minimum-staffing/): Eighteen attorneys general are urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- [Workforce stability suffers as nurse manager expectations increase: Vizient](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/workforce-stability-suffers-as-nurse-manager-expectations-increase-vizient/): Health systems are increasing their expectations for nurse managers without proper support, which risks workforce stability, according to a Feb.
- [Hospital mergers don’t improve quality: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hospital-mergers-dont-improve-quality-study/): With health systems now controlling the majority of U.S. hospital beds, mergers often promise better care.
- [Workforce strategies in the fastest-growing state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/workforce-strategies-in-the-fastest-growing-state/): As the fastest-growing U.S.
- [Hospitals weigh patient warnings amid ICE involvement](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hospitals-weigh-patient-warnings-amid-ice-involvement/): As U.S. immigration officials receive access to Medicaid beneficiary data, hospitals and states are unsure whether to warn patients who are immigrants, according to a Feb.
- [TrumpRx launches with discounts on 40 drugs: 5 takeaways ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/trumprx-launches-with-discounts-on-40-drugs-5-takeaways/): The White House launched TrumpRx.gov Feb. 5, a federal direct-to-consumer platform offering discounts on 40 high-cost prescription drugs.
- [How systems are preparing to care for a spike in uninsured patients](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-systems-are-preparing-to-care-for-a-spike-in-uninsured-patients/): Clinical leaders across the country are well aware of the challenges individuals face when they are uninsured: delays in care and worsening health conditions, which ultimately lead to more complex and costly treatment.
- [The Hidden Geographic Mismatch Driving Physician Shortages](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-hidden-geographic-mismatch-driving-physician-shortages/): Leaders at hospital providers nationwide tell me the same thing: “We can’t find enough physicians.” But here’s what the data actually shows—the issue isn’t just quantity, it’s location.
- [Why nurses are AI gatekeepers at MD Anderson](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/why-nurses-are-ai-gatekeepers-at-md-anderson/): For nurses at Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, tech adoption hinges on one question: Does it improve patient care?
- [What keeps supply chain leaders up at night](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/what-keeps-supply-chain-leaders-up-at-night/): Hospital supply chain leaders say the playbook that worked just a few years ago no longer holds.
- [Government reopens after partial shutdown: 5 healthcare takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/government-reopens-after-partial-shutdown-5-healthcare-takeaways/): President Donald Trump signed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act into law Feb.
- [States with the most rural hospitals per 100,000](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/states-with-the-most-rural-hospitals-per-100000/): Massachusetts has the most hospitals per 100,000 rural residents while Delaware has the fewest, according to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill report.
- [HCA nursing college to launch fast-track BSN program ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hca-nursing-college-to-launch-fast-track-bsn-program/): Research College of Nursing — a private institution in Kansas City, Mo., that is affiliated with Research Medical Center and part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare — is launching a new accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway.
- [The 10 fastest-growing states in the US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-10-fastest-growing-states-in-the-us/): While U.S. population growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, five states recorded population growth rates of at least 1%, according to data from the U.S.
- [‘Average’ ED performance linked to low care quality: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/average-ed-performance-linked-to-low-care-quality-report/): Many U.S. emergency departments operate “good enough,” and this level of performance is harming patients, margins and morale, according to a Jan.
- [Rural hospital CEOs lean on culture, local talent to fill roles](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/rural-hospital-ceos-lean-on-culture-local-talent-to-fill-roles/): As rural hospitals face the brunt of workforce shortages, their CEOs are taking a more proactive — and creative — approach to recruitment and retention.
- [Office politics in healthcare aren’t about power.](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/office-politics-in-healthcare-arent-about-power/): In healthcare organizations, office politics are often misunderstood. They’re usually assumed to be about power, intent, or personal agendas.
- [47% of US adults to have obesity by 2035: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/47-of-us-adults-to-have-obesity-by-2035-study/): Researchers forecast the national prevalence of obesity to rise from 42.5% of the U.S.
- [ACA enrollment falls to 23 million for 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/aca-enrollment-falls-to-23-million-for-2026/): Nearly 23 million people have enrolled in ACA marketplace plans for 2026, down from 24.2 million in 2025, according to the latest data from CMS published Jan.
- [US life expectancy hits all-time high amid decline in drug overdose deaths](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/us-life-expectancy-hits-all-time-high-amid-decline-in-drug-overdose-deaths/): U.S. life expectancy at birth reached 79 years in 2024, an all-time high, according to data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
- [Georgia hospital promotes administrator to CEO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/georgia-hospital-promotes-administrator-to-ceo/): Staff Relief Inc congratulates our long time staffing partner Casey!
- [How strategic supply partnerships are reshaping hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/how-strategic-supply-partnerships-are-reshaping-hospitals/): Over the past year, healthcare supply leaders say their most critical supplier relationships have shifted from transactional purchasing arrangements to deeper, more strategic partnerships — often with new expectations, governance demands and operational complexity.
- [3 ways rural hospitals are using AI to boost access](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/3-ways-rural-hospitals-are-using-ai-to-boost-access/): Faced with staffing shortages, administrative strain and geographic barriers, rural hospitals are increasingly adopting AI to expand care access and ease pressure on front-line teams.
- [50 best hospitals in 2026: Healthgrades](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/50-best-hospitals-in-2026-healthgrades/): Healthgrades published its annual “America’s Best Hospitals Awards” Jan. 27, recognizing 250 hospitals across the country for strong quality performance.
- [Healthcare’s hiring spree cools off](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/healthcares-hiring-spree-cools-off/): While healthcare job gains drove overall U.S. employment growth in December, the sector’s momentum has slowed below its 2024 and 2025 averages.
- [10 themes for health system growth in the next year](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/10-themes-for-health-system-growth-in-the-next-year/): As health systems head into 2026 amid margin pressure, policy uncertainty and rising demand, executives are converging around a shared set of priorities.
- [10 best, worst states to retire in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/10-best-worst-states-to-retire-in-2026/): Wyoming is the best state to retire in 2026, according to a Jan. 26 ranking from personal finance website WalletHub.
- [734 hospitals at risk of closure, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/734-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-by-state/): Seven hundred and thirty-four rural hospitals across the U.S., which represent one-third of all rural facilities nationwide, are at risk of closing due to severe financial problems, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform’s most recent analysis.
- [Hospital rethink energy infrastructure spend: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/hospital-rethink-energy-infrastructure-spend-5-notes/): Hospitals are increasingly seeking out new financial arrangements for energy management, transitioning capital expenditures into operating expenses, according to a report from Moody’s Investor Services.
- [Hospital readmission penalties shift based on Medicare Advantage penetration: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/hospital-readmission-penalties-shift-based-on-medicare-advantage-penetration-study/): Readmission penalties for hospitals with greater Medicare Advantage penetration are distorted, possibly due to unobserved severity, according to a University of Michigan of Ann Arbor study published Jan.
- [Is ‘follow up in 1 week’ costing health systems capacity?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/is-follow-up-in-1-week-costing-health-systems-capacity/): A common acute care discharge order, “follow up in one week with primary care,” is a virtually impossible task amid ever-growing waitlists at primary care clinics across the U.S.
- [The hospitals, health systems cutting jobs in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/the-hospitals-health-systems-cutting-jobs-in-2026/): A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces amid ongoing financial strain.
- [US hospitals brace for severe winter storm](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/us-hospitals-brace-for-severe-winter-storm/): Hospitals and healthcare facilities are rescheduling appointments, stocking up on medical supplies and coordinating with maintenance crews before a brutal winter storm sweeps across two-thirds of the U.S.
- [Georgia hospital plans tech upgrades with rural health funding](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/georgia-hospital-plans-tech-upgrades-with-rural-health-funding/): Bainbridge, Ga.-based Memorial Hospital and Manor hopes to leverage the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program to make technology improvements, the Post-Searchlight reported.
- [Why one hospital set a 1:4 cap on nurse-to-patient ratios](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/why-one-hospital-set-a-14-cap-on-nurse-to-patient-ratios/): Goshen (Ind.) Hospital made a bold commitment in November: implementing a maximum 1-to-4 nurse-to-patient staffing ratio across all inpatient units.
- [Healthcare workplace injuries, by setting](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/healthcare-workplace-injuries-by-setting/): In 2024, private industry employers in the U.S.
- [Emory rejuvenates brand: 7 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/emory-rejuvenates-brand-7-things-to-know/): Emory Healthcare refurbished its brand identity Jan. 21 across Atlanta and Central Georgia, according to a health system news release shared with Becker’s.
- [10 best, worst cities for STEM jobs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/10-best-worst-cities-for-stem-jobs/): Boston tops WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the best cities for science, technology, engineering and math jobs.
- [Clinicians should play bigger role in care transitions: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/clinicians-should-play-bigger-role-in-care-transitions-report/): Clinicians should take on a more proactive role during post-acute care transitions, according to a review published Jan. 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
- [The fastest-growing healthcare roles in 5 US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/the-fastest-growing-healthcare-roles-in-5-us-cities/): Clinical fellows are among the fastest-growing healthcare roles in major U.S. cities, according to a Jan. 21 LinkedIn News post.
- [With 600+ measles cases, South Carolina has largest outbreak in US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/with-600-measles-cases-south-carolina-has-largest-outbreak-in-us/): About a year after West Texas reported a large measles outbreak, South Carolina has the most measles cases of any U.S. state so far in 2026.
- [Telehealth doesn’t lead to ‘runaway utilization’: Michigan Medicine study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/telehealth-doesnt-lead-to-runaway-utilization-michigan-medicine-study/): Increased telehealth use since the pandemic has not been associated with a rise in overall healthcare utilization, according to a study at Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine.
- [Nursing fundamentals boost patient experience at Ascension hospital ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/nursing-fundamentals-boost-patient-experience-at-ascension-hospital/): A renewed focus on core nursing practices at Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County in Middleburg, Fla., led to significant gains in patient experience.
- [A rural Washington hospital’s roadmap to financial recovery](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/a-rural-washington-hospitals-roadmap-to-financial-recovery/): As rural hospitals across the nation continue to face mounting financial challenges and closures, East Adams Rural Healthcare’s Ritzville (Wash.)
- [States ranked by ACA enrollment change since 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/states-ranked-by-aca-enrollment-change-since-2025/): New Mexico has seen the biggest increase in ACA enrollment from 2025 to 2026, while North Carolina has seen the largest decrease, according to KFF.
- [Why today’s CNIO must plan for digital crisis](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/why-todays-cnio-must-plan-for-digital-crisis/): When clinical systems fail, nurses do not stop delivering care — they work around the technology.
- [McKinsey’s 2026 healthcare predictions: 5 takeaways for hospital leaders ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/mckinseys-2026-healthcare-predictions-5-takeaways-for-hospital-leaders/): To remain competitive in 2026 and beyond, healthcare leaders must improve performance, embrace technology and rethink traditional care models, according to a Jan.
- [Average US family spent nearly $4K on healthcare in 2024: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/average-us-family-spent-nearly-4k-on-healthcare-in-2024-report/): The typical working family in the U.S. spent $3,960 on healthcare-related costs in 2024, including premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, according to a Jan.
- [Rural hospitals’ plans for transformation funds — if and when they arrive](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/rural-hospitals-plans-for-transformation-funds-if-and-when-they-arrive/): As states finalize plans to administer billions of dollars through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, rural hospital leaders are beginning to articulate what they hope the funds will enable, from shoring up fragile service lines to building long-term infrastructure that could determine whether their organizations remain viable.
- [US healthcare spending climbed 7.2% in 2024: 8 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/us-healthcare-spending-climbed-7-2-in-2024-8-things-to-know/): U.S. healthcare spending reached $5.3 trillion in 2024, a 7.2% increase from $4.9 trillion the previous year, and similar to 7.4% growth in 2023, according to a CMS analysis published Jan.
- [Kidney donations decline ‘for all the wrong reasons,’ report finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/kidney-donations-decline-for-all-the-wrong-reasons-report-finds/): For the first time in the 21st century, the U.S. recorded an isolated decrease in deceased kidney donations, according to a Jan.
- [The strategic mistakes that wreck hospital turnarounds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/the-strategic-mistakes-that-wreck-hospital-turnarounds/): As health systems continue to navigate prolonged financial strain, workforce fatigue and growing regulatory pressure, Airica Powell-Steed, EdD, RN, says sustainable turnarounds depend less on quick fixes and more on values-driven leadership and long-term value creation.
- [Best healthcare jobs without a bachelor’s degree: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/best-healthcare-jobs-without-a-bachelors-degree-us-news/): Several healthcare roles landed on U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings of the best jobs without a bachelor’s degree.
- [SNF capacity drops by 5% post-pandemic: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/snf-capacity-drops-by-5-post-pandemic-5-notes/): Skilled nursing facility operating capacity dropped by 5% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2024, according to a study published Jan. 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
- [Best healthcare jobs in 2026: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/best-healthcare-jobs-in-2026-us-news/): For the third consecutive year, nurse practitioner earned the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual best jobs rankings.
- [What healthcare leaders need to know about cybersecurity in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/what-healthcare-leaders-need-to-know-about-cybersecurity-in-2026/): Cybersecurity risks facing healthcare organizations in 2026 are increasingly tied to prolonged technology outages that directly disrupt patient care, according to John Riggi, national adviser for cybersecurity and risk at the American Hospital Association.
- [Hospitals prep for rising ER visits as ACA subsidy lapse leaves patients with ‘impossible choices’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/hospitals-prep-for-rising-er-visits-as-aca-subsidy-lapse-leaves-patients-with-impossible-choices/): Hospitals and health systems nationwide are preparing for significant access and operational challenges after enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired Dec.
- [30 states seek to hire more foreign-trained physicians: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/30-states-seek-to-hire-more-foreign-trained-physicians-5-notes/): In recent years, a swell of states has adopted laws to lessen the requirements for foreign-trained physicians to join the U.S. workforce.
- [Nearly 15,000 nurses strike in NYC: 6 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/nearly-15000-nurses-strike-in-nyc-6-things-to-know/): Nearly 15,000 nurses at hospitals in New York City went on strike Jan. 12 after months of negotiations, marking the largest nurses strike in the city’s history.
- [Rural hospital CEOs fear losing out on transformation funds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/rural-hospital-ceos-fear-losing-out-on-transformation-funds/): Rural hospital leaders are raising concerns that some of the new federal rural health transformation funding could flow through state governments without ever reaching the hospitals the program was designed to support.
- [Most primary care physicians say drug shortages hurt care quality: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/most-primary-care-physicians-say-drug-shortages-hurt-care-quality-survey/): The majority of primary care physicians report that drug shortages affect the quality of patient care and increase administrative burdens, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.
- [AI scribes save more time for high-documenting physicians: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/ai-scribes-save-more-time-for-high-documenting-physicians-study/): AI scribes most help physicians who document more to begin with, according to research in the American Journal of Managed Care.
- [CDC: Flu-related pediatric deaths, hospitalizations rise](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/cdc-flu-related-pediatric-deaths-hospitalizations-rise/): Flu activity remained elevated nationwide during the week ending Jan.
- [Hospitals rethink PTO to combat burnout](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/hospitals-rethink-pto-to-combat-burnout/): Hospital and health systems are reimagining paid time off not simply as a benefit, but as a proactive tool for combatting burnout, retaining talent and fostering a healthier workplace culture.
- [5 hospitals, health systems raising workers’ pay](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/5-hospitals-health-systems-raising-workers-pay/): Since December 2025, the following hospitals and health systems have said they plan to raise their workers’ pay.
- [Healthcare job growth slows: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/healthcare-job-growth-slows-4-notes/): Healthcare employment continued to grow in December, with the industry adding 21,100 jobs, according to the latest report from the U.S.
- [Rural health’s $50B moment – or missed opportunity?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/rural-healths-50b-moment-or-missed-opportunity/): States are beginning to sketch out plans to deploy billions of dollars in new federal funding aimed at stabilizing and transforming rural healthcare, but early signals point to wide variation in approach and persistent uncertainty for rural hospitals waiting to understand when, how and whether funds will reach local providers.
- [5 healthiest states in 2025 — and the least healthy: United Health Foundation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/5-healthiest-states-in-2025-and-the-least-healthy-united-health-foundation/): The United Health Foundation released its 2025 “America’s Health Rankings Annual Report,” Jan.
- [10 medical residency trends](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/10-medical-residency-trends/): Women account for 50.2% of all U.S.
- [Emory ALIGN: Advancing a Sustainable Nursing Pipeline Through Academic–Clinical Collaboration](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/emory-align-advancing-a-sustainable-nursing-pipeline-through-academic-clinical-collaboration/): The healthcare sector is facing a decisive moment.
- [Tamiflu in shortage](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/tamiflu-in-shortage/): As the U.S. confronts one of its most severe flu seasons, Tamiflu, a common antiviral medication to treat influenza, is in shortage in pockets across the country, Bloomberg reported Jan.
- [Why Rady Children’s Health built its own private GPT](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/why-rady-childrens-health-built-its-own-private-gpt/): San Diego-based Rady Children’s Health has created its own private generative AI platform to answer questions and perform administrative tasks for employees.
- [25 fastest-growing jobs in the US: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/25-fastest-growing-jobs-in-the-us-linkedin/): Two healthcare roles made LinkedIn’s 2026 “Jobs on the Rise” list, which highlights the fastest-growing jobs across the U.S.
- [10 best, worst cities for an active lifestyle](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/10-best-worst-cities-for-an-active-lifestyle/): Honolulu is 2026’s best city for an active lifestyle, while Garland, Texas, is the worst, according to an annual WalletHub analysis published Jan.
- [ChatGPT becomes a new waypoint in the patient journey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/chatgpt-becomes-a-new-waypoint-in-the-patient-journey/): ChatGPT is rapidly emerging as a new waypoint in the patient journey, with millions of Americans using the generative AI tool to research symptoms, prepare for appointments, navigate insurance and seek answers when providers are unavailable.
- [Wellstar Georgia hospital names COO ahead of August opening](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/wellstar-georgia-hospital-names-coo-ahead-of-august-opening/): Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System has named a COO for its new $272 million hospital set to open in August.
- [Why CFOs can’t play the ‘financial scorekeeper’ in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/why-cfos-cant-play-the-financial-scorekeeper-in-2026/): Jacksonville, Fla.-based Nemours Children’s Health Executive Vice President and CFO Caswell Samms III is urging hospital and health system financial leaders to evolve beyond their traditional roles in 2026 as the industry navigates increasingly challenging circumstances.
- [New Jersey eliminates $86 million in medical debt ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/new-jersey-eliminates-86-million-in-medical-debt/): New Jersey has forgiven more than $86 million in medical debt for more than 53,000 residents, marking the sixth round of relief under the state’s partnership with national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.
- [20,000 nurses at 12 New York City hospitals give strike notice](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/20000-nurses-at-12-new-york-city-hospitals-give-strike-notice/): The New York State Nurses Association delivered 10-day strike notices Jan. 2 to 12 hospitals in New York City.
- [The business case for ambulatory growth, despite lower pay](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/the-business-case-for-ambulatory-growth-despite-lower-pay/): Health system C-suites across the U.S.
- [ED visit times, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/ed-visit-times-by-state/): Patients in Washington, D.C., had the highest median time spent in the emergency department, while patients in North Dakota had the lowest, CMS data shows.
- [Protecting Residents, Staff and Ratings: 4 Actionable Steps for Stronger Infection Control](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/protecting-residents-staff-and-ratings-4-actionable-steps-for-stronger-infection-control/): Infection prevention in senior living facilities has come a long way since the onset of COVID-19, but significant risks remain.
- [Revolutionizing the Standard of Care and Patient Experience: A Holistic Approach to Chronic Conditions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/01/revolutionizing-the-standard-of-care-and-patient-experience-a-holistic-approach-to-chronic-conditions/): The disease burden of chronic conditions has been rising dramatically—a Milken Institute report estimated that 30.8 million people in the U.S.
- [7 major vaccine policy changes in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/7-major-vaccine-policy-changes-in-2025/): In 2025, federal health agencies dismantled precedents in vaccine guidance, fracturing state-federal alignment and fueling concerns about public health guidance.
- [11 states plan post-acute initiatives with CMS’ rural health fund](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/11-states-plan-post-acute-initiatives-with-cms-rural-health-fund/): Eleven states have outlined plans to address post-acute care coordination as part of their participation in the new CMS Rural Health Transformation Program.
- [States ranked by physician communication](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/states-ranked-by-physician-communication/): Hospitals in Nebraska lead the nation on physician communication, while hospitals in Nevada rank lowest, CMS data shows.
- [Emory program expands Georgia’s imaging workforce](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/emory-program-expands-georgias-imaging-workforce/): As radiologist shortages persist nationwide, Emory’s Radiologic Technology Certificate Program is helping grow Georgia’s imaging workforce and train the next generation of technologists as it enters its seventh decade.
- [72 hospital patient experience benchmarks](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/72-hospital-patient-experience-benchmarks/): National patient experience scores held largely steady in 2024, with modest improvements in several key areas.
- [Hospitals cut length of stay: 3 trends](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/hospitals-cut-length-of-stay-3-trends/): Across 1,300 hospitals nationally, average length of stay declined 2% from September 2025 to October 2025.
- [FDA approves 1st motion sickness drug in over 40 years](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/fda-approves-1st-motion-sickness-drug-in-over-40-years/): Vanda Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for Nereus (tradipitant), an oral NK-1 receptor antagonist developed to prevent motion-induced vomiting.
- [Flu admissions jump 91% in 1 week; New York sees record cases — 5 updates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/flu-admissions-jump-91-in-1-week-new-york-sees-record-cases-5-updates/): A mutated version of an influenza A strain is dominating this year’s respiratory virus season, driving a record number of cases in some areas of the country.
- [7 medical breakthroughs in 2025: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/7-medical-breakthroughs-in-2025-report/): The past 12 months recorded several medical breakthroughs, including first-time gene therapy outcomes, notable FDA approvals and virtual healthcare delivery, ABC News reported Dec.
- [Guthrie cuts patient falls by 87% with virtual care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/guthrie-cuts-patient-falls-by-87-with-virtual-care/): Sayre, Pa.-based Guthrie has improved patient safety and its financial outlook since launching a virtual care center in 2023.
- [Virtual nursing at 10 systems: 23 results to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/virtual-nursing-at-10-systems-23-results-to-know/): Many health systems with virtual nursing programs say these remote care models have strong ROI — but few share specific wins and results.
- [5 notes on looming telehealth compliance changes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/5-notes-on-looming-telehealth-compliance-changes/): Federal officials and industry leaders outlined key policy shifts ahead for telehealth during the American Telemedicine Association EDGE 2025 Policy Conference Dec.
- [Post-acute follow-up lowers readmission by 84%: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/post-acute-follow-up-lowers-readmission-by-84-what-to-know/): Patients who interacted with a transitional care management team after hospital discharge had an 84% lower risk of being readmitting within 30 days, according to a study published Dec.
- [CMS under Dr. Oz: 20 key actions ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/cms-under-dr-oz-20-key-actions/): CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, has moved quickly to advance President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
- [10 things to know about Gen Z in healthcare in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/10-things-to-know-about-gen-z-in-healthcare-in-2025/): While Generation Z employees are often associated with entry-level roles, they have also begun stepping into leadership positions at hospitals and health systems.
- [How flu cases compare to past seasons](https://staffreliefinc.com/2025/12/how-flu-cases-compare-to-past-seasons/): The flu season is off to a severe and early start, with outpatient visits for flu-like illness already reaching levels rarely seen this time of year.
- [10 drugs poised to be global best-sellers in 2030](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-drugs-poised-to-be-global-best-sellers-in-2030/): Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro is projected to be the best-selling drug in the world in 2030, according to Statista data shared March 9 with Becker’s.
- [50 states ranked by hospital concentration](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/50-states-ranked-by-hospital-concentration/): The newly launched Health Care Affordability Lab within New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University’s Tobin Center for Economic Policy released a tool March 9 that allows users to explore hospital mergers, closures, ownership changes and market concentration across all 50 states.
- [10 top patient safety concerns in 2026: ECRI ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-top-patient-safety-concerns-in-2026-ecri/): The use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis, rural healthcare access and federal funding cuts are among the most pressing patient safety concerns facing healthcare organizations in 2026, according to a new report from ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
- [The cardiology physician shortage by state by 2036](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/the-cardiology-physician-shortage-by-state-by-2036/): By 2036, the U.S.
- [10 best, worst states for women in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-best-worst-states-for-women-in-2026/): Massachusetts is the best U.S. state for women for the second consecutive year, according to a March 2 WalletHub ranking.
- [Four Proven Approaches to Stabilizing Clinical Operations](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/four-proven-approaches-to-stabilizing-clinical-operations/): Across the country, health systems are showing that staffing stability is achievable even in a constrained physician market.
- [5 Ways Healthcare Facilities Can Optimize Space and Efficiency](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/5-ways-healthcare-facilities-can-optimize-space-and-efficiency/): Long wait times, crowded waiting rooms, and frustrated staff are often symptoms of inefficient workflows driven by physical space constraints.
- [66 hospitals with the most ED visits in 2025](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/66-hospitals-with-the-most-ed-visits-in-2025/): According to data gathered by Becker’s, Parkland Health and Hospital System saw the highest number of emergency department visits in 2025.
- [How health system leaders combat ‘meeting overload’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-health-system-leaders-combat-meeting-overload/): Two-thirds of workplace leaders cite meetings as the No. 1 thing they spend too much time on, according to a Feb. 10 Korn Ferry article.
- [The next phase of patient experience](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-next-phase-of-patient-experience/): Nearly half of hospital executives said patient experience is their top priority for the next two years, according to a recent survey.
- [6 health systems land on Fortune’s most-admired companies list](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/6-health-systems-land-on-fortunes-most-admired-companies-list/): Six health systems were featured on Fortune and Korn Ferry’s 28th annual list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
- [What’s next for hospital wages?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/whats-next-for-hospital-wages/): Hospitals are reaching a breaking point as demand and competition for healthcare workers pushes wages ever higher.
- [EHR strategy becomes a recruitment lever for health systems](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/ehr-strategy-becomes-a-recruitment-lever-for-health-systems/): For many chief medical information officers, technology investments are no longer framed solely as operational upgrades.
- [Child obesity rates hit record high: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/child-obesity-rates-hit-record-high-5-notes/): One in 5 children aged 2 to 19 in the U.S. are living with obesity, marking the highest rate ever recorded, according to newly published data from the CDC.
- [Limiting loans for nurses will make our country’s health care crisis even worse](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/limiting-loans-for-nurses-will-make-our-countrys-health-care-crisis-even-worse/): Proposed changes to federal student loans threaten to shrink the nursing workforce when we can least afford it.
- [Radiologist turnover doubled in recent years, study finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/radiologist-turnover-doubled-in-recent-years-study-finds/): Job-switching rates among U.S. radiologists increased by 61% between 2013 and 2022.
- [The workforce investments health system execs refuse to cut ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-workforce-investments-health-system-execs-refuse-to-cut/): As hospitals nationwide contend with margin pressure and persistent workforce shortages, 56 health systems were named to Forbes‘ annual list of America’s Best Large Employers.
- [Telehealth costs 5 times less than office visits: Penn Medicine](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/telehealth-costs-5-times-less-than-office-visits-penn-medicine/): Telehealth is about five times less expensive than in-office care for common conditions that can be treated by both types of visits, according to a new study from Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine.
- [How far are older adults patients willing to travel for care?: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-far-are-older-adults-patients-willing-to-travel-for-care-study/): Willingness among older adults to drive more than an hour for medical care varies by social demographics, according to a study published Feb.
- [10 fastest-growing skills in healthcare ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/10-fastest-growing-skills-in-healthcare/): Workflow optimization is the fastest-growing skill in healthcare, according to a Feb. 24 LinkedIn News post.
- [10 hardest-working US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/10-hardest-working-us-cities/): Among U.S. cities, the hardest-working Americans live in Cheyenne, Wyo., according to an analysis by personal finance website WalletHub.
- [Private equity firm to acquire home health, hospice company in $1.1B deal — 5 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/private-equity-firm-to-acquire-home-health-hospice-company-in-1-1b-deal-5-things-to-know/): Enhabit, a home health and hospice provider with 249 home health locations and 117 hospice locations across 34 states, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Kinderhook Industries in an all-cash transaction valued at about $1.1 billion.
- [States with the most top home health programs: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/states-with-the-most-top-home-health-programs-us-news/): California has the most top-rated home health programs, according to U.S. News and World Report’s inaugural ranking.
- [‘Think of your hospital as a startup’: What Mark Cuban would do if he bought a hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/think-of-your-hospital-as-a-startup-what-mark-cuban-would-do-if-he-bought-a-hospital/): If Mark Cuban bought a hospital, he says he would run it like a startup: eliminate unnecessary overhead, prioritize radical transparency, pay physicians well and use AI to root out inefficiencies.
- [‘The best ideas come from the front lines’: Why Penn State Health’s CEO still practices medicine](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-best-ideas-come-from-the-front-lines-why-penn-state-healths-ceo-still-practices-medicine/): When Michael Kupferman, MD, became CEO of Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health in late June 2025, he brought a special background that not all health system executives have: decades of work as a physician.
- [3 big questions surrounding the Rural Health Transformation Program](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/3-big-questions-surrounding-the-rural-health-transformation-program/): As funds begin flowing to states through the five-year, $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, hospital leaders are confronting a central question: Will the initiative meaningfully stabilize struggling providers — or will it fall short of offsetting an estimated $137 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities over the next decade?
- [Healthcare wage growth weakens: Indeed](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/healthcare-wage-growth-weakens-indeed/): Healthcare wage growth weakened in the six months leading up to December across most categories analyzed, according to a Feb.
- [South Carolina measles admissions ‘vastly underreported’: ProPublica — 3 updates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/south-carolina-measles-admissions-vastly-underreported-propublica-3-updates/): Medical experts believe measles-related hospitalizations in South Carolina are significantly higher than reported, since the state does not require hospitals to report admissions for the virus, ProPublica reported Feb.
- [How health systems are tackling behavioral health fragmentation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-health-systems-are-tackling-behavioral-health-fragmentation/): Health systems are responding to fragmented behavioral healthcare delivery in different ways: expanding telepsychiatry in rural states, building pediatric health hubs that integrate mental and physical health on one campus, launching behavioral health urgent cares, and investing in navigators and data infrastructure to keep patients connected after discharge.
- [Historic New York City nurses strike ends after 41 days](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/historic-new-york-city-nurses-strike-ends-after-41-days/): The largest nurses strike in New York City has ended after 41 days, with the final group of striking nurses voting to ratify a contract with NewYork-Presbyterian.
- [6 lessons shaping health system strategic leaders’ operational approach for 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/6-lessons-shaping-health-system-strategic-leaders-operational-approach-for-2026/): Challenges such as emerging technology, government regulations, workforce shortages and increasing labor costs have driven a number of health system strategic leaders to pivot their approach for 2026.
- [The ‘uncomfortable decisions’ ahead for hospital CFOs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-uncomfortable-decisions-ahead-for-hospital-cfos/): The hardest work ahead for CFOs isn’t finding opportunities for growth. It’s narrowing them.
- [Medicare Advantage’s ‘sunk-cost’ problem](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/medicare-advantages-sunk-cost-problem/): Medicare Advantage now covers about 55% of eligible beneficiaries nationwide — more than 35 million people — but health systems are confronting a question that until recently felt almost taboo: What happens when participation in the country’s fastest-growing Medicare program no longer makes financial sense?
- [Trump administration eyes US-run WHO alternative: Washington Post](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/trump-administration-eyes-us-run-who-alternative-washington-post/): After exiting the World Health Organization in January, the Trump administration is proposing to spend $2 billion annually on a U.S.-run replacement, The Washington Post reported Feb.
- [AHA recommends ‘zero trust’ for cybersecurity](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/aha-recommends-zero-trust-for-cybersecurity/): The American Hospital Association is suggesting that hospitals and health systems consider deploying “zero trust” architecture to improve their cybersecurity.
- [Sanford Health regional CEO takes helm](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/sanford-health-regional-ceo-takes-helm/): Jason Caron, MD, has stepped into his role as president and CEO of Sanford Health in Bemidji (Minn.).
- [NYC Health + Hospitals unveils $2M MRI suite](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/nyc-health-hospitals-unveils-2m-mri-suite/): New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx unveiled a new $2 million MRI suite at its North Central Bronx campus.
- [Walgreens to cut 628 jobs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/walgreens-to-cut-628-jobs/): Walgreens is laying off hundreds of employees in two states as its new private equity owner looks to cut costs, Bloomberg reported Feb.
- [Top 10 hospitals for cost efficiency: Lown Institute](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/top-10-hospitals-for-cost-efficiency-lown-institute/): The Lown Institute Hospitals Index named the top 10 hospitals for cost efficiency.
- [CEO tapped to lead 3 New York City hospitals post-merger](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/ceo-tapped-to-lead-3-new-york-city-hospitals-post-merger/): NYC Health + Hospitals has appointed Svetlana Lipyanskaya as the next CEO of Maimonides Health, pending formal approval of the partnership between the two New York City-based health systems.
- [Seton Medical Center nurses call off strike after tentative agreement](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/seton-medical-center-nurses-call-off-strike-after-tentative-agreement/): Members of the California Nurses Association have called off their one-day strike planned for Feb.
- [CommonSpirit California CFO transitions to new regional role](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/commonspirit-california-cfo-transitions-to-new-regional-role/): Shelly Schorer, California CFO at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, has accepted a role as the system’s South region CFO, effective March 1, according to a Feb.
- [Nearly 90% of healthcare organizations say modernization is essential: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/nearly-90-of-healthcare-organizations-say-modernization-is-essential-survey/): Nearly 90% of healthcare organizations say they must modernize operations to keep pace with mounting clinical, regulatory and financial pressures, according to a new survey of healthcare technology leaders.
- [Scripps Health posts 4.1% operating margin in Q1 ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/scripps-health-posts-4-1-operating-margin-in-q1/): San Diego-based Scripps Health recorded an operating income of $52.2 million (4.1% operating margin) in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, down from an operating income of $67.3 million (5.5% margin) during the same period last year.
- [McLaren hospital taps chief nurse](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/mclaren-hospital-taps-chief-nurse/): McLaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant has named Kelly DeBolt, BSN, RN, chief nursing officer.
- [UChicago Medicine names Medical Center president](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/uchicago-medicine-names-medical-center-president/): Krista Curell, RN, was appointed president of the University of Chicago Medical Center, effective late 2025.
- [Payer, provider transparency campaigns could signal deeper tensions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/payer-provider-transparency-campaigns-could-signal-deeper-tensions/): Recently, payers and providers have been engaging in a slew of transparency campaigns, with some aiming to “expose” pricing and denial concerns.
- [Trinity Health hospital nurses ratify 3-year labor deal](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/trinity-health-hospital-nurses-ratify-3-year-labor-deal/): Nurses at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., have ratified a three-year labor contract, according to a Feb.
- [How Care New England is embedding Epic training into nursing education](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-care-new-england-is-embedding-epic-training-into-nursing-education/): Providence, R.I.-based Care New England has partnered with Rhode Island College in Providence to create a pipeline of digitally educated, EHR-trained nurses and healthcare administrators, Tomas Gregorio, CIO of the health system, told Becker’s.
- [2 Connecticut cities accuse PBMs, drugmakers of ‘insulin pricing scheme’](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/2-connecticut-cities-accuse-pbms-drugmakers-of-insulin-pricing-scheme/): Two Connecticut cities filed federal lawsuits against Cigna, CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group — targeting their pharmacy benefit managers — over an alleged “insulin pricing scheme,” according to January filings in the U.S.
- [How CHS sold 35% of its hospitals and held revenue](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-chs-sold-35-of-its-hospitals-and-held-revenue/): Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has divested around 35% of its portfolio since 2019, but net revenue has stayed relatively the same, shifting slightly from approximately $13 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2025.
- [HCA Alaska Hospital taps 4 new leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hca-alaska-hospital-taps-4-new-leaders/): Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare’s Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage has named four new leaders.
- [Optum launches latest AI tool to support value-based care ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/optum-launches-latest-ai-tool-to-support-value-based-care/): Optum has launched Value Connect, an AI-powered platform designed to help payers and providers operationalize value-based care models by combining clinical, operational and financial data into a single system.
- [The Value of Nurses on Boards Is No Longer Debatable](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-value-of-nurses-on-boards-is-no-longer-debatable/): Michael Porter defined value as outcomes divided by cost1. Healthcare embraced the equation quickly but applied it unevenly.
- [In a cooling strike climate, healthcare heated up](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/in-a-cooling-strike-climate-healthcare-heated-up/): Healthcare remains a focal point for work stoppages, despite a broader national decline, as hospital and health system employees continue to cite pay and staffing concerns.
- [More than 20 health systems launch specialty care coalition to expand rural access](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/more-than-20-health-systems-launch-specialty-care-coalition-to-expand-rural-access/): A new national coalition of health systems and strategic partners has launched to address worsening shortages in access to medical specialists in rural areas and underserved urban communities across the United States.
- [Georgia hospital reports 2025 hacking incident](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/georgia-hospital-reports-2025-hacking-incident/): Swainsboro, Ga.-based Emanuel Medical Center is notifying patients of a May 2025 hacking incident.
- [Wellstar names chief strategy and growth officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/wellstar-names-chief-strategy-and-growth-officer/): Thomas Kruse was appointed executive vice president and chief strategy and growth officer of Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System, effective March 30, according to a health system news release shared with Becker’s.
- [What’s driving system investments in rehab care?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/whats-driving-system-investments-in-rehab-care/): So far in 2026, about half a dozen U.S.
- [Hospice spending, care quality scores by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hospice-spending-care-quality-scores-by-state/): California and Nevada hospice providers had the lowest care-quality scores despite spending the most per beneficiary to provide care between Jan.
- [Michigan system taps AI to flag heart disease risk](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/michigan-system-taps-ai-to-flag-heart-disease-risk/): Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care has launched a cardiovascular screening program in partnership with Bunkerhill Health.
- [North Carolina targets PBMs under pricing law](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/north-carolina-targets-pbms-under-pricing-law/): The North Carolina Department of Justice and North Carolina Department of Insurance alerted pharmacy benefit managers Feb.
- [CVS launches $5M pharmacy scholarship in Louisiana](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/cvs-launches-5m-pharmacy-scholarship-in-louisiana/): CVS Health has launched a $5 million scholarship program to support students pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans or the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
- [Kansas county withdraws hospital lease termination notice, commits to keeping it open](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/kansas-county-withdraws-hospital-lease-termination-notice-commits-to-keeping-it-open/): Commissioners in Pratt County, Kan., directed their counsel Feb.
- [FDA reverses course; agrees to review Moderna flu vaccine ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/fda-reverses-course-agrees-to-review-moderna-flu-vaccine/): The FDA has agreed to review Moderna’s investigational flu vaccine for potential approval, about a week after telling the drugmaker it would not consider the application.
- [AI in Healthcare Needs System-Level Execution, Not Task Automation](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/ai-in-healthcare-needs-system-level-execution-not-task-automation/): Healthcare is investing in AI.
- [Top 7 billionaires in US healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/top-7-billionaires-in-us-healthcare/): The latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which ranks the world’s 500 richest people across industries, includes seven leaders from U.S. healthcare.
- [10 health systems with strong finances ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/10-health-systems-with-strong-finances/): Here are 10 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions, according to reports from credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service released in 2026.
- [Medical virtual visit volumes rival behavioral health: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/medical-virtual-visit-volumes-rival-behavioral-health-study/): While nearly half of behavioral health visits happen remotely, non-mental health conditions still account for tens of millions of telehealth appointments, a new study found.
- [FDA flags safety issue with blood glucose meters](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/fda-flags-safety-issue-with-blood-glucose-meters/): The FDA has issued a warning regarding a labeling issue affecting several of Trividia Health’s True Metrix blood glucose monitoring systems that could delay treatment during episodes of severe hyperglycemia.
- [Safety-net CEOs confront rising labor costs — and hard decisions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/safety-net-ceos-confront-rising-labor-costs-and-hard-decisions/): One Brooklyn Health just weathered one of New York City’s worst flu seasons in a decade.
- [Staffing shortages strain breast imaging access, report finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/staffing-shortages-strain-breast-imaging-access-report-finds/): A nationwide shortage of breast imaging radiologists is making it harder for women to get timely mammograms and follow-up diagnostic care, according to a new report.
- [Words matter: Reframing patient and customer experience to advance healing and service](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/words-matter-reframing-patient-and-customer-experience-to-advance-healing-and-service/): People’s experience with healthcare is variable, sometimes outstanding, too often poor.
- [CDC confirms 910 measles cases in 2026; South Carolina remains hardest hit](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/cdc-confirms-910-measles-cases-in-2026-south-carolina-remains-hardest-hit/): Six weeks into 2026, the CDC has confirmed 910 measles cases.
- [Telehealth for primary care levels off: Epic](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/telehealth-for-primary-care-levels-off-epic/): Telehealth use for primary care has leveled off after growing significantly amid the pandemic, Epic researchers found.
- [Central Maine Healthcare joins Prime](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/central-maine-healthcare-joins-prime/): Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare’s nonprofit public charity, Prime Healthcare Foundation, acquired Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare on Feb.
- [Humana closes on acquisition of MaxHealth primary care clinics](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/humana-closes-on-acquisition-of-maxhealth-primary-care-clinics/): Humana’s healthcare services division CenterWell has completed its acquisition of MaxHealth, a Tampa, Fla.-based primary care network focused on adults and seniors, the company said Feb.
- [Cleveland Clinic 1st to use new robot for prostate surgery](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/cleveland-clinic-1st-to-use-new-robot-for-prostate-surgery/): Cleveland Clinic recently became the first health system in the U.S. to use a new robotic-assisted surgery system for prostatectomy.
- [2 senior HHS leaders to exit roles ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/2-senior-hhs-leaders-to-exit-roles/): HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and General Counsel Mike Stuart plan to step down from their roles, Politico reported Feb.
- [BayCare names chief information security officer](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/baycare-names-chief-information-security-officer/): Clearwater, Fla.-based BayCare Health System has appointed Robert Carvajal as chief information security officer.
- [Building on a foundation of culture and trust: How Jefferson Health reopened a hospital just 9 days after a fire](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/building-on-a-foundation-of-culture-and-trust-how-jefferson-health-reopened-a-hospital-just-9-days-after-a-fire/): In healthcare, we prepare for emergencies, but nothing prepares you for the words I heard on the night of Feb.
- [How a virtual ICU saved a rural hospital](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/how-a-virtual-icu-saved-a-rural-hospital/): One of WVU Medicine’s small hospitals in rural West Virginia was nearing closure just a few years ago.
- [The culture behind Memorial Hermann’s award-winning nursing units](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-culture-behind-memorial-hermanns-award-winning-nursing-units/): Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston is earning national recognition for embedding healthy work environments into daily operations — a strategy leaders say is key to retaining nurses in today’s competitive workforce climate.
- [Data-driven physician staffing tied to significant savings for health systems, study finds](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/data-driven-physician-staffing-tied-to-significant-savings-for-health-systems-study-finds/): A data-driven approach to physician staffing across multiple hospitals can significantly cut overtime and idle time, translating into meaningful cost savings for health systems, according to a new study.
- [Federal judge blocks $602M in CDC cuts to 4 states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/federal-judge-blocks-602m-in-cdc-cuts-to-4-states/): A federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois granted a temporary restraining order Feb.
- [28 hospital price transparency fines, by bed count ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/28-hospital-price-transparency-fines-by-bed-count/): Of the 28 hospitals CMS has fined for alleged price transparency violations, only two have bed counts above 550, while 10 have 30 or fewer beds.
- [Another win for GLP-1s and cancer risk: 5 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/another-win-for-glp-1s-and-cancer-risk-5-study-notes/): Patients with endometrial hyperplasia or benign uterine pathology had a 66% reduced risk of developing endometrial cancer when treated with progestins and a GLP-1 compared to patients treated with progestins alone, according to a study published Feb.
- [Hospital-primary care affiliations on the rise: 7 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/hospital-primary-care-affiliations-on-the-rise-7-things-to-know/): Hospital affiliations with primary care providers are up about 17% in the last four years and are seeing mixed results, a recent Medscape report found.
- [The 43 medications on TrumpRx](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-43-medications-on-trumprx/): The federal direct-to-consumer website TrumpRx.gov currently lists 43 brand-name medications accessible through manufacturer-run cash discount programs.
- [The 28 hospitals fined for price transparency violations, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-28-hospitals-fined-for-price-transparency-violations-by-state/): CMS has fined 28 hospitals in 16 states and Puerto Rico for alleged price transparency violations.
- [Are price transparency laws helping patients? 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/are-price-transparency-laws-helping-patients-5-notes/): Price transparency laws for healthcare organizations were first implemented in 2021 and have progressively strengthened since, but have they helped patients?
- [Healthcare adds nearly 82,000 jobs in January: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/healthcare-adds-nearly-82000-jobs-in-january-4-notes/): Healthcare employment continued to grow in January, with the industry adding 81,900 jobs, according to the latest report from the U.S.
- [56 health systems among Forbes’ best large employers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/56-health-systems-among-forbes-best-large-employers/): Forbes recognized 56 hospitals and health systems on its 11th annual list of America’s Best Large Employers released Feb.
- [417 rural hospitals at risk of closure: Chartis](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/417-rural-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-chartis/): There are 417 rural hospitals that are vulnerable to closure, according to a Feb. 10 report from Chartis, a healthcare advisory services firm.
- [2,100 nurses, healthcare workers to strike across California, Nevada: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/2100-nurses-healthcare-workers-to-strike-across-california-nevada-6-notes/): About 2,100 nurses and healthcare workers from four hospitals operated by Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare are set to strike this month across California and Nevada.
- [The change management lessons learned for 4 hospital CEOs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/the-change-management-lessons-learned-for-4-hospital-ceos/): Successfully approaching organizational change — whether it involves new technology, policies or workflows — is a key responsibility for hospital and health system CEOs, especially in 2026 as they navigate a convergence of financial strain, workforce pressure and emerging tools like artificial intelligence.
- [Top factors that would bring RNs back to the bedside: Penn Nursing study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/top-factors-that-would-bring-rns-back-to-the-bedside-penn-nursing-study/): A majority of nurses who left bedside roles in recent years are willing to return, with adequate staffing levels cited as the main factor that would reattract them, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia.
- [28 hospital price transparency fines from highest to lowest](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/28-hospital-price-transparency-fines-from-highest-to-lowest/): CMS has issued fines to 28 hospitals for alleged price transparency violations.
- [Preventive screenings boost outcomes, lower spending](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/preventive-screenings-boost-outcomes-lower-spending/): Patients who take advantage of zero-cost preventive screenings see better health outcomes and reduced spending, according to January research from BCBS Association and Blue Health Intelligence.
- [CDC outlines 6 core elements for hospital diagnostic excellence](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/02/cdc-outlines-6-core-elements-for-hospital-diagnostic-excellence/): The CDC on Feb.
- [10 most, least affordable cities for home buyers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/10-most-least-affordable-cities-for-home-buyers/): Flint, Mich., is the most affordable U.S. city to buy a home, according to a recent ranking from personal finance website WalletHub.
- [The Ebola outbreak: 11 things hospital leaders need to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/the-ebola-outbreak-11-things-hospital-leaders-need-to-know/): Ebola is making international headlines again after the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency, but the CDC said the risk to the U.S.
- [A potential risk of early retirement: 6 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/a-potential-risk-of-early-retirement-6-study-notes/): Leaving the workforce before retirement age could speed up cognitive decline, while working into older ages may help delay it, according to a recent study.
- [Top 13 healthcare disruptors: CNBC](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/top-13-healthcare-disruptors-cnbc/): Several startups with a footprint in healthcare made CNBC’s annual Disruptor 50 rankings May 19, with one AI giant surpassing a rival in 2026.
- [Emory launches ED nurse residency program](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/emory-launches-ed-nurse-residency-program/): Emory Decatur Hospital in Decatur, Ga., part of Emory Healthcare, has launched the health system’s first residency program for emergency department nurses.
- [Private insurance prices grew 47% faster than Medicare rates: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/private-insurance-prices-grew-47-faster-than-medicare-rates-5-notes/): Private insurance prices grew 47% more quickly than Medicare rates over seven years, KFF reported May 18.
- [37 hospital jobs ranked by pay](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/37-hospital-jobs-ranked-by-pay/): Mean annual wages for hospital workers range from $37,080 for maids and housekeeping cleaners to $454,940 for cardiologists, according to newly released federal data.
- [After years of gains, male RN representation fell to 10.4%: 5 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/after-years-of-gains-male-rn-representation-fell-to-10-4-5-notes/): Updated May 2026 workforce data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing show men accounted for a smaller share of registered nurses in 2024 than in 2022.
- [RN pay by state, adjusted for cost of living](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/rn-pay-by-state-adjusted-for-cost-of-living/): California has the highest hourly mean wage for registered nurses in the U.S., while Oregon has the highest hourly mean wage for RNs when adjusted for cost of living, according to data released May 15 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [How 25 health systems’ labor costs trended in 2025 ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/how-25-health-systems-labor-costs-trended-in-2025/): Workforce spending remained hospitals’ top expense in 2025, representing 60% of total expenses, according to the American Hospital Association.
- [396 cleanest hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/396-cleanest-hospitals/): Becker’s has compiled a list of the hospitals with a CMS 5-star rating for cleanliness.
- [Why rural is the perfect setting for innovation: Mayo Clinic Health System CEO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/why-rural-is-the-perfect-setting-for-innovation-mayo-clinic-health-system-ceo/): On the surface, the conventional rural health story is one marked by rising financial pressures, dwindling care access and closure risks.
- [Turnover runs high at 22% for early-career nurses: Press Ganey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/turnover-runs-high-at-22-for-early-career-nurses-press-ganey/): In 2025, the average U.S. hospital lost $5.19 million from registered nurse turnover.
- [Nurses believe AI will improve patient care, but only 41% use it: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/nurses-believe-ai-will-improve-patient-care-but-only-41-use-it-report/): Forty-one percent of nurses report using AI regularly, compared to 57% of physicians, and of those who use AI, only 30% regularly use clinician-specific tools, a May 12 Elsevier report found.
- [373 top hospitals for patient experience: Healthgrades](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/373-top-hospitals-for-patient-experience-healthgrades/): Healthgrades recognized 373 hospitals with its 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award.
- [80 top hospitals for patient experience, safety: Healthgrades](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/80-top-hospitals-for-patient-experience-safety-healthgrades/): Healthgrades recognized 80 hospitals with its 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award and the Patient Safety Excellence Award.
- [Only 20 states are prepared for a public health emergency: What to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/only-20-states-are-prepared-for-a-public-health-emergency-what-to-know/): Only 20 states are prepared for a public health emergency, a new Trust for America’s Health report found.
- [10 best, worst cities to start a career](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/10-best-worst-cities-to-start-a-career/): Atlanta topped WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the best and worst places to start a career, while New York City ranked worst.
- [Hospital profitability: 20 things to know in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/hospital-profitability-20-things-to-know-in-2026/): Hospital margins are under pressure and the latest data shows the strain is not evenly distributed.
- [Staffing, stewardship and AI: 5 resources for healthcare leaders](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/staffing-stewardship-and-ai-5-resources-for-healthcare-leaders/): Healthcare continues to face tight margins, patient expectations keep climbing and clinical and operational leaders are being asked to do more with the teams and tools they already have.
- [Healthcare adds 37,300 jobs in April: 4 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/healthcare-adds-37300-jobs-in-april-4-things-to-know/): Healthcare employment rose by 37,300 in April, in line with the 12-month average of 32,000 monthly job gains, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [Where are Leapfrog’s 5 ‘F’ hospitals? ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/where-are-leapfrogs-5-f-hospitals/): Five U.S. hospitals have received an “F” safety grade from The Leapfrog Group for spring 2026.
- [Nurses fret AI overreliance could erode care, call for more guardrails](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/nurses-fret-ai-overreliance-could-erode-care-call-for-more-guardrails/): As U.S. nurses increasingly employ AI in their day-to-day tasks, the American Nurses Association is advocating for more nurse-led guardrails amid concerns of bias, unclear accountability and a decline in professional judgement.
- [Fatality risk grows 8% per added med-surg nurse patient: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/fatality-risk-grows-8-per-added-med-surg-nurse-patient-study/): For every additional patient assigned to a medical-surgical nurse in Pennsylvania, there is an associated 8% increase in fatality risk within 30 days, according to a study published April 30 in Medical Care.
- [10 hiring ‘hot spots’ for new graduates](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/10-hiring-hot-spots-for-new-graduates/): Birmingham-Hoover, Ala., is the top U.S. metropolitan area for college degree holders in their 20s, according to a study from payroll provider ADP.
- [Georgia hospital names Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin COO as CEO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/georgia-hospital-names-atrium-health-navicent-baldwin-coo-as-ceo/): Thomas “Tog” Goss, MSN, RN, was appointed CEO of Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton, Ga., effective June 1.
- [The current state of the physician workforce: 9 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/the-current-state-of-the-physician-workforce-9-notes/): Physician burnout is declining, systems are finding new ways to recruit physicians without raising pay, but international physicians are in limbo amid visa renewal delays.
- [The 10 highest-paying physician specialties in the last 5 years](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/the-10-highest-paying-physician-specialties-in-the-last-5-years/): Orthopedics and plastic surgery have traded the top two spots in Medscape’s annual Physician Compensation Report every year since 2021, and both specialties have seen compensation climb by more than $80,000 over that span.
- [How Emory is using da Vinci digital surgery tools to train the next generation: 3 takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/how-emory-is-using-da-vinci-digital-surgery-tools-to-train-the-next-generation-3-takeaways/): As da Vinci surgery platforms evolve into data-rich, digital ecosystems, health systems are discovering that the real value isn’t just in the operating room — it’s in what the technology can teach.
- [12 hospital executives’ thank-you notes to nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/12-hospital-executives-thank-you-notes-to-nurses/): In honor of National Nurses Month in May and National Nurses Week (May 6-12), hospitals and health systems are recognizing nurses across the country.
- [5 ways insurers are betting big on AI](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/5-ways-insurers-are-betting-big-on-ai/): AI was front and center during recent earnings calls for UnitedHealth Group and Elevance Health, as leaders discussed their companies’ respective $1.5 billion and $1 billion tech investments.
- [64% of Americans worry about healthcare costs: 6 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/64-of-americans-worry-about-healthcare-costs-6-notes/): With 2026 midterm elections around the corner, nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are concerned about affording healthcare, according to an April 29 KFF poll.
- [Rural Health Transformation Should Mean Removing Barriers—Not Reinforcing Them](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/rural-health-transformation-should-mean-removing-barriers-not-reinforcing-them/): Rural healthcare is at an inflection point. Hospitals are closing or scaling back essential services. Labor and delivery units are disappearing.
- [Medical liability premiums rise for 7th year: 6 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/medical-liability-premiums-rise-for-7th-year-6-things-to-know/): Medical liability insurance premiums increased nationwide for the seventh consecutive year in 2025, marking the longest sustained upward trend since the early 2000s, according to new research from the American Medical Association.
- [10 states with most, least drug use](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-states-with-most-least-drug-use/): New Mexico is the most at-risk state for drug use, according to an April 29 ranking from personal finance website WalletHub.
- [Can ambient AI work for nurses? Jefferson Health is finding out](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/can-ambient-ai-work-for-nurses-jefferson-health-is-finding-out/): As part of a goal to return 10 million clinical hours to clinicians by 2028, Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health is piloting an ambient AI documentation tool for nursing units — a largely unprecedented goal for health system AI projects.
- [What’s retaining nurses in long-term care](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/whats-retaining-nurses-in-long-term-care/): The majority of nurses working in long-term care said they are happy in their position, but 73.8% have reported their job has become more difficult in the last 18 months, a recent American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing survey found.
- [6 best healthcare employers for career growth: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/6-best-healthcare-employers-for-career-growth-linkedin/): Six healthcare organizations — including one health system — have been recognized on LinkedIn’s list of the 50 best U.S. employers to grow careers.
- [The federal policy pushing physicians out of medicine](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/the-federal-policy-pushing-physicians-out-of-medicine/): Physicians are increasingly uncertain if their career choice was worth the debt they took on for training — and some of them would not choose medicine again under new federal caps on student loans, according to new data from Panacea Financial shared with Becker’s.
- [10 predictions for hospital margins: Moody’s](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-predictions-for-hospital-margins-moodys/): Hospitals are bracing for a cascade of financial pressures as rising insurance costs, Medicaid restrictions and a growing number of uninsured patients threaten to reshape patient behavior and erode margins in the years ahead, according to a new Moody’s Healthcare Quarterly report.
- [Why AI in revenue cycle has become a necessity — 3 takeaways](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/why-ai-in-revenue-cycle-has-become-a-necessity-3-takeaways/): Revenue cycle leaders are facing a national coder shortage, intensifying payer complexity and tighter margins.
- [10 best, worst states for nurses in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-best-worst-states-for-nurses-in-2026/): Maine is the best state for nurses to practice in 2026, according to WalletHub’s annual ranking, which evaluates opportunity, competition and working conditions.
- [10 best, worst entry-level jobs in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-best-worst-entry-level-jobs-in-2026/): WalletHub released its 2026 ranking of the best and worst entry-level jobs April 27, and certified nursing assistants in nursing homes claimed the No.
- [The cost of nurse turnover in 10 points | 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/the-cost-of-nurse-turnover-in-10-points-2026/): Nurse shortages and mounting labor costs remain among health system CEOs’ top concerns, and the newest NSI survey puts fresh numbers on the financial risks hospitals face from vacancies and churn.
- [Nurse perception of staffing more accurately predicts patient falls on some units: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/nurse-perception-of-staffing-more-accurately-predicts-patient-falls-on-some-units-study/): Nurses’ assessment of staffing adequacy is a more accurate predictor of patient falls on medical surgical units than traditional data, a recent study found.
- [The best states for senior living: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/the-best-states-for-senior-living-us-news/): Florida has the highest number of “best” senior living communities, while three states — Alaska, Montana and North Dakota — have no top-ranked communities, according to an April 14 U.S News & World Report ranking.
- [11 things to know about the uninsured population: KFF](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/11-things-to-know-about-the-uninsured-population-kff/): In 2024, the uninsured rate grew for the first time since 2019, according to an April 9 KFF issue brief.
- [We don’t just need more nurses. We need more leaders to train them.](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/we-dont-just-need-more-nurses-we-need-more-leaders-to-train-them/): With the United States facing an estimated deficit of more than 250,000 registered nurses by 2028, the nursing shortage is seemingly hard to escape right now: It is dominating headlines, part of policy debates and seen in the lived experiences of anyone who has waited for hours in an understaffed emergency room.
- [Closing the gaps: How connected technology is reshaping specialty medication access](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/closing-the-gaps-how-connected-technology-is-reshaping-specialty-medication-access/): Health systems and specialty practices are under increasing pressure to accelerate patient access to therapies.
- [10 metros with highest, lowest healthcare spending per person](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-metros-with-highest-lowest-healthcare-spending-per-person/): Per-person healthcare spending among people with employer-sponsored insurance averaged $6,711 nationally in 2022, though this figure varies significantly by geography, according to an April 9 report from the Health Care Cost Institute.
- [6 discharge lounge best practices](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/6-discharge-lounge-best-practices/): More hospitals and health systems are leaning on discharge lounges to decongest EDs and improve patient experience, but there are no industrywide procedures for setting up a lounge.
- [36% of Americans turn to social media for health information: Pew](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/36-of-americans-turn-to-social-media-for-health-information-pew/): About one-third of Americans say they get health information from social media, while a smaller but growing share turn to artificial intelligence chatbots, according to an April 7 analysis from Pew Research Center.
- [Nurse job satisfaction drops after 3-year recovery: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/nurse-job-satisfaction-drops-after-3-year-recovery-survey/): In a reversal of a three-year trend, job satisfaction among nurses is declining and more are considering leaving the profession, according to a recent survey of 2,090 nurses.
- [4 Joint Commission moves](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/4-joint-commission-moves/): So far in 2026, The Joint Commission — the oldest and world’s largest standard-setting and accrediting body in healthcare — has launched two outcomes-driven certifications and condensed serious safety event lists.
- [Best, worst states for children’s healthcare](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/best-worst-states-for-childrens-healthcare/): Massachusetts is the best state for children’s healthcare, WalletHub found.
- [Top medical schools for 2026, per US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/top-medical-schools-for-2026-per-us-news/): U.S. News & World Report published its 2026 best medical schools list April 7 as part of its Best Graduate Schools rankings.
- [Top graduate nursing programs for 2026: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/top-graduate-nursing-programs-for-2026-us-news/): U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 rankings of the nation’s best graduate nursing programs April 7, with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Emory University in Atlanta topping the lists for Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, respectively.
- [Georgia hospital matches donor in $2M campaign](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/georgia-hospital-matches-donor-in-2m-campaign/): Madison, Ga.-based Morgan Medical Center has kicked off a $2 million capital campaign after it received a $1 million matching challenge grant from an anonymous donor.
- [Nursing emerges as top pathway to middle-class income](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/nursing-emerges-as-top-pathway-to-middle-class-income/): Plentiful job openings and potential six-figure incomes are drawing young Americans to nursing, while prospects in other fields are declining, The Wall Street Journal reported April 1.
- [10 trends in healthcare tech investments and ROI](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/10-trends-in-healthcare-tech-investments-and-roi/): The return on investment conversation for health technology and AI-powered applications has evolved over the years.
- [Fortune’s 17 best healthcare companies to work for](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/04/fortunes-17-best-healthcare-companies-to-work-for/): Fortune partnered with Great Place to Work, a people analytics firm, to create the list.
- [What health questions are people asking Microsoft Copilot?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/what-health-questions-are-people-asking-microsoft-copilot/): Nearly 1 in 5 people who turn to Microsoft Copilot for health information discuss personal symptoms or conditions, the tech giant found.
- [What it takes to sustain engagement among Gen Z nurses: 6 things to know ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/what-it-takes-to-sustain-engagement-among-gen-z-nurses-6-things-to-know/): Generation Z nurses require more frequent one-on-one interaction with managers and leaders than prior generations to maintain similar levels of engagement and retention, according to a March 25 report from Laudio and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.
- [AI Won’t Improve Care Quality Until Your Workforce Is Ready](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/ai-wont-improve-care-quality-until-your-workforce-is-ready/): In conversations with healthcare executives nationwide, I’m hearing a consistent theme: their organizations are investing heavily in AI to address capacity constraints and improve care quality, but getting clinical teams to use these tools effectively remains one of their biggest hurdles.
- [Most health systems lack tools for vendor-agnostic interoperability: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/most-health-systems-lack-tools-for-vendor-agnostic-interoperability-survey/): Health IT leaders increasingly see vendor consolidation as central to achieving interoperability, but most organizations lack the tools to fully realize it, a March 24 survey from CliniComp found.
- [AI is coming for admin jobs, CFOs say ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/ai-is-coming-for-admin-jobs-cfos-say/): Artificial intelligence is expected to disproportionately affect routine, clerical and administrative roles, while having a limited near-term impact on overall employment, The Wall Street Journal reported March 24.
- [‘We don’t think of it as just a service line’: How 5 health systems integrate behavioral health into core finances ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/we-dont-think-of-it-as-just-a-service-line-how-5-health-systems-integrate-behavioral-health-into-core-finances/): Across five health systems, behavioral health leaders are seeing a fundamental shift in how integration is financed: moving from siloed service lines and short-term funding toward enterprisewide cost strategies.
- [20 best small cities for careers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/20-best-small-cities-for-careers/): Alpharetta, Ga., is the best small U.S. city for careers, according to a Jan. 13 ranking from CoworkingCafe.
- [‘Game-changers for their communities’: UAB plans 3rd freestanding ED](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/game-changers-for-their-communities-uab-plans-3rd-freestanding-ed/): Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Health System is planning a third freestanding emergency department, this time in Oxford, Ala.
- [10 most, least stressed states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-most-least-stressed-states/): South Dakota was found to be the least stressed state, while Louisiana was the most stressed, according to WalletHub’s annual ranking.
- [Viewpoint: US nursing workforce faces several risks](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/viewpoint-us-nursing-workforce-faces-several-risks/): Federal budget policies could put the nation’s nursing faculty workforce under great strain, according to a March 20 JAMA Health Forum viewpoint by two leaders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- [‘The 1980s called’: CMS to phase out fax, mail](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/the-1980s-called-cms-to-phase-out-fax-mail/): CMS has finalized a rule to phase out faxing and mailing for healthcare claims documentation.
- [How rural hospital CEOs are navigating new healthcare laws in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/how-rural-hospital-ceos-are-navigating-new-healthcare-laws-in-2026/): As rural hospital leaders guide their organizations through 2026, they are juggling the financial pressure of federal Medicaid changes while looking to state legislatures for tools to stabilize their organizations.
- [10 most, least innovative states](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-most-least-innovative-states/): Of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital is the most innovative, according to a ranking from personal finance website WalletHub.
- [Judge’s ruling on HHS’ vaccine overhaul spurs questions about RSV shot availability](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/judges-ruling-on-hhs-vaccine-overhaul-spurs-questions-about-rsv-shot-availability/): A federal judge’s March 16 ruling blocking much of HHS’ recent vaccine policy overhaul is raising new questions about access to respiratory syncytial virus preventive shots for infants.
- [An issue with hospital executive pay](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/an-issue-with-hospital-executive-pay/): Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare’s executive compensation structure underscores a clear industry reality: financial performance — particularly EBITDA — remains the dominant driver of leadership pay.
- [How 3 hospitals are bringing nurses back to the bedside](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/how-3-hospitals-are-bringing-nurses-back-to-the-bedside/): A rising demand for adequate nurse staffing is pushing some hospitals to expand their recruitment strategies to nurses who had left the bedside.
- [Better hospital quality linked to stronger margins: Vizient study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/better-hospital-quality-linked-to-stronger-margins-vizient-study/): Hospitals in Vizient’s top tier for quality performance reported an average operating margin of 6.3% in late 2025, while hospitals with the lowest quality posted a -3.6% operating margin, according to a Vizient study published March 16.
- [15 best, worst states for physicians in 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/15-best-worst-states-for-physicians-in-2026/): Montana is the best state for physicians to practice in 2026, a recognition it has retained for several consecutive years as part of WalletHub’s annual ranking.
- [Top 20 hospitals ranked by community benefit spending: Lown Institute](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/top-20-hospitals-ranked-by-community-benefit-spending-lown-institute/): The Lown Institute, a nonpartisan healthcare think tank, has named eight New York hospitals and four in Texas in its annual ranking of top 20 U.S.
- [The healthcare roles least, most vulnerable to AI: Washington Post](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/the-healthcare-roles-least-most-vulnerable-to-ai-washington-post/): Healthcare support workers and physician assistants are projected to have the lowest vulnerability to artificial intelligence among roles in the field, while medical secretaries and administrative assistants may face higher vulnerability, The Washington Post reported March 16.
- [What health systems learned from the Stryker cyberattack](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/what-health-systems-learned-from-the-stryker-cyberattack/): The recent cyberattack on medtech company Stryker must serve as a “wake-up call” about hackers’ evolving tactics, even as it illustrates a “new normal” in healthcare, health system leaders told Becker’s.
- [Nearly half of healthcare workers report low safety culture: Press Ganey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/nearly-half-of-healthcare-workers-report-low-safety-culture-press-ganey/): Nearly half of healthcare employees report a low perception of safety culture, according to Press Ganey’s “State of Healthcare Safety 2026” report.
- [Nurses navigate AI-generated health information at bedside](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/nurses-navigate-ai-generated-health-information-at-bedside/): As patients increasingly turn to AI tools to interpret their health data, nurses are encountering new challenges at the bedside, according to a March case study in Nursing Outlook.
- [Why some health system CEOs are opting out of cross-market expansion](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/why-some-health-system-ceos-are-opting-out-of-cross-market-expansion/): While cross-market mergers are becoming more common in health system growth across the U.S., some CEOs are more focused on expanding access within their existing markets.
- [What happens after patients stop GLP-1s?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/what-happens-after-patients-stop-glp-1s/): Discontinuing GLP-1 treatment does not always cause significant weight gain, as many patients transition to other obesity or diabetes treatments, according to a Cleveland Clinic study published March 12 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
- [Hospital margins take a dive](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/hospital-margins-take-a-dive/): Hospitals and health systems had a rocky start to 2026.
- [3 healthcare roles bucking hiring trends for younger workers](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/3-healthcare-roles-bucking-hiring-trends-for-younger-workers/): A decline in employment among occupations most exposed to artificial intelligence is hitting younger workers hardest, according to a study from three Stanford (Calif.)
- [1 in 3 Americans make financial trade-offs to afford healthcare: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/1-in-3-americans-make-financial-trade-offs-to-afford-healthcare-gallup/): One in 3 Americans have made trade-offs —such as prolonging a prescription or skipping a meal —to afford healthcare, according to a March 12 article from Gallup.
- [Georgia lawmakers move to limit AI’s role in health insurance denials](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/georgia-lawmakers-move-to-limit-ais-role-in-health-insurance-denials/): The Georgia Senate has passed a bill that would ban AI tools from being used independently to make coverage decisions.
- [Medicare Advantage spending 14% higher than fee for service: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/medicare-advantage-spending-14-higher-than-fee-for-service-report/): The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission estimated Medicare Advantage payments will be 14% greater than fee-for-service Medicare in 2026, according to a March 12 report from the congressional agency.
- [Rural hospital leaders innovate as pressure mounts](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/rural-hospital-leaders-innovate-as-pressure-mounts/): Access to affordable healthcare has become the defining concern of leaders in rural America.
- [Hospice nurse weekend visit rates, by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/hospice-nurse-weekend-visit-rates-by-state/): Hospice nurses in Wyoming and California spent the longest time with patients during weekend visits between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec.
- [Georgia system to add 100 residency positions](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/georgia-system-to-add-100-residency-positions/): Savannah, Ga.-based St.
- [Hospital expenses grew twice as fast as prices in 2025: 4 AHA findings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/hospital-expenses-grew-twice-as-fast-as-prices-in-2025-4-aha-findings/): American hospitals saw expenses grow 7.5% in 2025, more than twice the rate of growth in hospital prices that year, according to the American Hospital Association’s annual “Costs of Caring” report.
- [3 forces reshaping organizations in 2026: McKinsey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/3-forces-reshaping-organizations-in-2026-mckinsey/): McKinsey’s “State of Organizations 2026” report highlights several disruptions affecting organizations globally, including challenges hospital and health system leaders are grappling with.
- [Private equity invested $1 trillion in healthcare in 10 years: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/private-equity-invested-1-trillion-in-healthcare-in-10-years-report/): Private equity firms have become a major force in healthcare, investing more than $1 trillion over the last ten years, according to a recent report from New York University’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.
- [10 happiest US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/10-happiest-us-cities/): Fremont, Calif., topped WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of happiest cities in the U.S. for another year, while Detroit ranked at the bottom.
- [442 top hospitals for patient safety: Healthgrades](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/442-top-hospitals-for-patient-safety-healthgrades/): Healthgrades has recognized 442 hospitals in 40 states for being the top 10% in the nation for patient safety. Texas had the most recognized facilities at 77.
- [Judge orders Leapfrog to remove grades for 5 Florida hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/03/judge-orders-leapfrog-to-remove-grades-for-5-florida-hospitals/): A federal judge ruled March 6 in favor of five Florida hospitals that filed a lawsuit against The Leapfrog Group nearly a year ago, which claimed the organization’s “D” and “F” safety scores unfairly damaged the hospitals’ reputations.
- [Private equity owns 561 US hospitals: 10 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/11/private-equity-owns-561-us-hospitals-10-things-to-know/): Private equity firms own about 561 U.S. hospitals, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project’s latest hospital tracker, published Oct.
- [9 GLP-1 updates to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/11/9-glp-1-updates-to-know/): Employer coverage pullbacks, new federal policy and product safety concerns are shaping the GLP-1 landscape.
- [30 states with the highest, lowest nurse shortage severity: Nurse.org  ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/11/30-states-with-the-highest-lowest-nurse-shortage-severity-nurse-org/): California has the most severe nursing shortage among 30 states, while Hawaii has the least severe, according to a Nurse.org report.
- [Will AI raise or lower healthcare costs?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/11/will-ai-raise-or-lower-healthcare-costs/): Health systems have spent the past few years building the case for AI one use case at a time. Less clear is what AI will do to the nation’s healthcare bill.
- [‘That’s what ChatGPT told me’: How AI is entering the exam room ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/thats-what-chatgpt-told-me-how-ai-is-entering-the-exam-room/): When a patient came to Jon Ebbert, MD, with dizziness, he took her history, examined her and told her he suspected benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
- [Study: Why RTO mandates aren’t bringing teams back together](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/study-why-rto-mandates-arent-bringing-teams-back-together/): Many employees who now commute under stricter return-to-office policies still work virtually once they arrive, economists Natalia Emanuel and Emma Harrington wrote in The Atlantic Oct.
- [Current metrics measure nursing ‘by its absence,’ researchers argue](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/current-metrics-measure-nursing-by-its-absence-researchers-argue/): Nurse scientists are calling on hospitals, payers and credentialing bodies to overhaul how they measure nursing care, arguing that today’s metrics capture only a sliver of what nurses actually do.
- [AI and pancreatic cancer detection: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/ai-and-pancreatic-cancer-detection-4-notes/): As healthcare leaders celebrate the FDA’s approval of daraxonrasib — a pancreatic cancer drug that nearly doubled survival in clinical trials — two harsh realities remain: most pancreatic cancer patients are still diagnosed at a late stage, and those treated with daraxonrasib will eventually develop resistance to it.
- [Healthcare on the ballot: 8 measures to watch](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/healthcare-on-the-ballot-8-measures-to-watch/): Voters in several states will weigh in on healthcare-related ballot measures Nov.
- [10 safest cities in America: WalletHub](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/10-safest-cities-in-america-wallethub/): WalletHub ranked Juneau, Alaska, as the safest U.S. city, according to an Oct. 19 analysis from the personal finance company.
- [Hospital stocks gain ground: 4 things to know ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/10/hospital-stocks-gain-ground-4-things-to-know/): Shares of three of the largest publicly traded hospital operators have outpaced the broader market since June 30, even as the systems split on their outlooks for the rest of 2026.
- [How rural hospitals are building up cash reserves](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/how-rural-hospitals-are-building-up-cash-reserves/): Rural hospitals often operate with far fewer days of cash on hand than larger health systems, which can leave little room to absorb a financially challenging year, like unexpected capital needs or staffing shortages.
- [51% of nurses plan to stay with their employer: 6 study notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/51-of-nurses-plan-to-stay-with-their-employer-6-study-notes/): Seventy-nine percent of nurses intend to remain in nursing, but only 51% plan to stay with their current employer, according to AMN Healthcare’s 2026 Healthcare Workforce Outlook Survey, released Sept.
- [Struggling Georgia hospital asks for local aid ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/struggling-georgia-hospital-asks-for-local-aid/): Elbert (Ga.) Memorial Hospital has asked for a $250,000 contribution from the Elbert County Board of Commissioners to sustain the facility’s operations, including a matched contribution request from the City of Elberton, according to a Sept.
- [61 hospitals with 5 stars for quality and patient experience: CMS ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/61-hospitals-with-5-stars-for-quality-and-patient-experience-cms/): Only 61 hospitals earned five-star ratings for both overall hospital quality and patient experience.
- [82% of VA hospitals report severe shortage of practical nurses](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/82-of-va-hospitals-report-severe-shortage-of-practical-nurses/): The Veterans Health Administration stated that 82% of medical centers had severe shortages of practical nurses and 80% were severely short of psychology employees in the past 12 months, according to a Sept.
- [America’s top 25 colleges: Forbes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/americas-top-25-colleges-forbes/): The Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped Forbes’ 2026 ranking of America’s top colleges, a list that includes several schools affiliated with academic health systems.
- [The 20 most expensive conditions hospitals treat: Report](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/09/the-20-most-expensive-conditions-hospitals-treat-report/): Septicemia is the most expensive condition treated in hospitals, amounting to $60 billion, a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project report found.
- [21 health systems warn of MyChart ‘Medicare Kit’ scam](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/21-health-systems-warn-of-mychart-medicare-kit-scam/): A phishing scam impersonating MyChart is targeting patients at health systems across the country, with fraudulent emails and texts dangling a “MyChart Medicare Kit” or “Senior Health Package” to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or handing over personal information.
- [Gen X is delaying retirement. Here’s what it means for hospital CHROs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/gen-x-is-delaying-retirement-heres-what-it-means-for-hospital-chros/): Hospitals and health systems are bracing for a potential wave of baby boomer retirements.
- [Costco enters Medicare market through insurer partnership](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/costco-enters-medicare-market-through-insurer-partnership/): SCAN Health Plan and Costco will roll out insurance products for older adults in the coming years, according to an Aug. 18 news release.
- [What 14,000 Gen Zers say would make them pursue leadership](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/what-14000-gen-zers-say-would-make-them-pursue-leadership/): Higher pay, flexible work arrangements and a clearer path to the top would make Gen Z and millennial workers more likely to pursue leadership roles, according to Deloitte’s 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey.
- [Childhood vaccination rates continue to decline: CDC](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/childhood-vaccination-rates-continue-to-decline-cdc/): Vaccination coverage among the nation’s kindergartners slipped again in the 2025-26 school year while the share of children claiming exemptions climbed to a record 4.2%, new CDC data shows.
- [83% of employers say rising healthcare costs are squeezing pay raises](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/83-of-employers-say-rising-healthcare-costs-are-squeezing-pay-raises/): More than 8 in 10 employers say rising healthcare costs are cutting into wage and salary increases, according to a survey conducted by The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
- [6 Penn Nursing studies on what staffing headcounts miss](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/6-penn-nursing-studies-on-what-staffing-headcounts-miss/): A year of University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing research points to a consistent finding: the staffing numbers hospitals track most closely to predict patient safety are less reliable than nurses’ own read.
- [9 takeaways from 3,700+ ranked hospitals](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/9-takeaways-from-3700-ranked-hospitals/): More than 3,700 hospitals — roughly 85% of U.S.
- [Who leads the workforces of US News’ top 20 hospitals?](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/who-leads-the-workforces-of-us-news-top-20-hospitals/): The 20 hospitals on U.S.
- [4 shifts in US News’ cardiology hospital rankings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/4-shifts-in-us-news-cardiology-hospital-rankings/): U.S. News and World Report’s 2026-2027 rankings for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery look different from last year’s list in more than just the order of names.
- [States with highest, lowest mortality for 10 chronic diseases: CDC ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/08/states-with-highest-lowest-mortality-for-10-chronic-diseases-cdc/): Mississippi appears in the top five states for highest mortality across eight chronic conditions, the CDC found.
- [10 best states for healthcare: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/10-best-states-for-healthcare-us-news/): U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best States rankings July 28, evaluating all 50 states on how they best serve their residents across eight categories: healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.
- [8 things to know about healthcare spending trends ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/8-things-to-know-about-healthcare-spending-trends/): More data is pointing to concerns of skyrocketing healthcare costs in the upcoming years.
- [10 states with the most hospital closures, biggest net gains](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/10-states-with-the-most-hospital-closures-biggest-net-gains/): A total of 743 general acute-care hospitals have closed across the United States since 2000, according to a July 22 news release from the Health Care Affordability Lab at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and shared with Becker’s.
- [10 fastest-growing large cities for jobs: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/10-fastest-growing-large-cities-for-jobs-linkedin/): San Francisco is the fastest-growing large U.S. city for jobs and talent, according to a July 22 list from LinkedIn News.
- [1 in 4 US workers stay in jobs for health insurance: Gallup](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/1-in-4-us-workers-stay-in-jobs-for-health-insurance-gallup/): Nearly 1 in 4 U.S.
- [States ranked by ED physicians per capita ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/states-ranked-by-ed-physicians-per-capita/): Emergency medicine physicians per capita vary more than fourfold across the U.S., from 51.32 per 100,000 residents in the District of Columbia to 11.55 in Alabama, according to data from KFF and the U.S.
- [States ranked by surgeons per capita](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/states-ranked-by-surgeons-per-capita/): The District of Columbia has the highest concentration of general surgeons in the U.S., with 71.79 general surgeons per capita, according to a Becker’s analysis of state-level general surgeon counts from KFF and 2025 U.S.
- [10 best, worst cities for renters](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/10-best-worst-cities-for-renters/): Scottsdale, Ariz., is the best place in the U.S.
- [States with the most, fewest physicians per capita](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/states-with-the-most-fewest-physicians-per-capita/): The District of Columbia, New York and Massachusetts have the most physicians per capita, while Mississippi, Alabama and Nevada have the fewest, according to Bureau of Labor statistics and Census data.
- [Nurse practitioner workforce growth to far outpace physicians, physician assistants: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/nurse-practitioner-workforce-growth-to-far-outpace-physicians-physician-assistants-study/): The nurse practitioner workforce is projected to grow 11% annually through 2030, far outpacing projected growth for physician assistants and physicians, according to workforce estimates published in Health Affairs.
- [Nurse AI adoption outpaces hospital strategy: Survey](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/nurse-ai-adoption-outpaces-hospital-strategy-survey/): Nurse AI adoption is accelerating faster than hospitals are building strategies to support it, a report from Incredible Health found.
- [23% of organizations are not prioritizing clinician burnout: Poll](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/23-of-organizations-are-not-prioritizing-clinician-burnout-poll/): Among organizations, 23% said clinician burnout is not a current focus, compared to 17% that reported its their No. 1 concern.
- [The Most Underrated Workforce Lever in Health Systems](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/the-most-underrated-workforce-lever-in-health-systems/): Health systems are paying twice for the same clinical talent. Most have not figured that out yet.
- [The discipline helping rural hospitals survive](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/the-discipline-helping-rural-hospitals-survive/): At least 15 rural hospitals have closed in the last year.
- [20 most, least health stressed US cities](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/20-most-least-health-stressed-us-cities/): Fremont, Calif., ranks as the city with the lowest health and safety stress, while Memphis, Tenn., is the most stressed, WalletHub found.
- [Nursing home workforce adds 3,300 jobs in June amid deportation, shortage concerns](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/nursing-home-workforce-adds-3300-jobs-in-june-amid-deportation-shortage-concerns/): The nursing home workforce gained 3,300 jobs in June, bringing the total number of workers up to 1,586,600, the American Health Care Association said in a July 6 news release shared with Becker’s.
- [60 statistics on hospital expenses in mid-2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/60-statistics-on-hospital-expenses-in-mid-2026/): For years, labor dominated the hospital expense conversation.
- [Healthcare job growth slows to 21,500 in June: 4 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/healthcare-job-growth-slows-to-21500-in-june-4-things-to-know/): Healthcare added 21,500 jobs in June, slowing down from the average monthly gain of 38,000 over the past year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [US death rate drops 4.6%, setting record low: CDC](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/us-death-rate-drops-4-6-setting-record-low-cdc/): The nation’s age-adjusted death rate fell 4.6% in 2025 to 689.2 deaths per 100,000 people — the lowest rate ever recorded in the U.S.
- [3 skills new nurses are missing on day 1, per nurse execs](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/3-skills-new-nurses-are-missing-on-day-1-per-nurse-execs/): There’s a widening gap between what a nursing degree certifies and what a hospital unit actually demands in practice, nursing leaders say.
- [When 2 hospitals close: Atlanta’s answer vs. Chicago’s void](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/when-2-hospitals-close-atlantas-answer-vs-chicagos-void/): Two Chicago-area safety-net hospitals have closed within a year of each other — both owned by Princeton, N.J.-based Resilience Healthcare — and no health system, buyer or partner has publicly committed to reopening either.
- [The Gen Z, boomer primary care gap: 3 findings](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/07/the-gen-z-boomer-primary-care-gap-3-findings/): Young adults are far less likely than older generations to maintain an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician, a new survey shows.
- [How 3 hospitals on the brink of closure are fighting to stay open ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/how-3-hospitals-on-the-brink-of-closure-are-fighting-to-stay-open/): While 2026 kicked off with fewer hospital closures compared to the same period in 2025, three hospitals in three states are on the verge of closing, and their situations mirror what many facilities across the country are facing.
- [Healthcare burnout looks different now — 5 leaders explain what’s driving it](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/healthcare-burnout-looks-different-now-5-leaders-explain-whats-driving-it/): When the COVID-19 pandemic receded, clinical workers expected three things: sustained recognition for what they had endured, a period of respite and a return to some version of normalcy.
- [How a critical access hospital raised its cash on hand from 3 to 25 days](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/how-a-critical-access-hospital-raised-its-cash-on-hand-from-3-to-25-days/): Rawlins, Wyo.-based Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, has grown its days cash on hand from 3 days to 25 days between January 2025 and June 2026, marking a significant financial recovery for the 25-bed critical access hospital.
- [How marketing is becoming a health system growth engine](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/how-marketing-is-becoming-a-health-system-growth-engine/): Health system chief marketing officers say marketing is most effective when it helps shape strategy instead of simply promoting it.
- [Hiring, pay and restructuring: 4 HR leaders on difficult workforce decisions ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/hiring-pay-and-restructuring-4-hr-leaders-on-difficult-workforce-decisions/): From restructuring leadership teams to limiting hiring and adjusting compensation, health system leaders are making difficult workforce decisions that require balancing organizational priorities, financial realities and employee needs.
- [Hospitals cite technical issues for price transparency notices ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/hospitals-cite-technical-issues-for-price-transparency-notices/): Many of the 519 hospitals that drew federal price transparency warning letters from the Trump administration said the citations stemmed from minor technical or formatting errors in their data files — not a failure to disclose pricing — and that the problems were corrected within days of notification.
- [8 GLP-1 findings to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/8-glp-1-findings-to-know/): A wave of new research is expanding what clinicians and health system leaders know about GLP-1 medications — covering new territory from liver disease to male fertility to a blood pressure safety signal.
- [How 25 health systems’ labor costs trended in Q1 ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/how-25-health-systems-labor-costs-trended-in-q1/): Workforce spending remained hospitals’ top expense in 2025, representing 60% of total expenses, according to the American Hospital Association.
- [Rural physicians are leaving Medicare faster than anyone is tracking](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/rural-physicians-are-leaving-medicare-faster-than-anyone-is-tracking/): Nationally, roughly 1% of U.S. physicians have opted out of Medicare entirely, according to 2025 data from KFF.
- [As the nursing landscape evolves, the art of caring remains critical](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/as-the-nursing-landscape-evolves-the-art-of-caring-remains-critical/): My mom was a nurse.
- [Top universities for radiology, nuclear medicine: US News](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/top-universities-for-radiology-nuclear-medicine-us-news/): Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University was ranked the top university for radiology, nuclear medicine and medical imaging — both globally and in the U.S.
- [Georgia health system names director of nursing](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/georgia-health-system-names-director-of-nursing/): Valdosta, Ga.-based SGMC Health has appointed Sarah Durden, BSN, RN, as director of nursing for acute care.
- [Virtual nursing tied to 72% drop in ED readmissions: 9-hospital study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/virtual-nursing-tied-to-72-drop-in-ed-readmissions-9-hospital-study/): Virtual nursing for hospital discharge was associated with sharply lower 30-day emergency department readmissions across nine hospitals in a major Southeastern U.S.
- [100 hospital financial benchmarks | 2026](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/100-hospital-financial-benchmarks-2026/): S&P Global Ratings’ preliminary 2025 medians show nonprofit hospitals and health systems posting positive but still-thin operating margins, stronger debt-service coverage and growing reserves, with performance varying across credit tiers.
- [41 hospital jobs ranked by share of healthcare workforce](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/41-hospital-jobs-ranked-by-share-of-healthcare-workforce/): Nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers in the U.S. is a registered nurse, according to May 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [‘Provider’ vs. ‘physician’: What federal law actually says and why it’s so hard to change](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/provider-vs-physician-what-federal-law-actually-says-and-why-its-so-hard-to-change/): The word “provider” has become a contested term in American medicine, and the pushback is intensifying.
- [States with the highest, lowest APP job growth](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/states-with-the-highest-lowest-app-job-growth/): Among four advanced practice provider positions, only nurse practitioners saw growth in employed workers between 2024 and 2025.
- [Medicare Advantage spending flagged as hospital fund depletion moves up: 4 notes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/medicare-advantage-spending-flagged-as-hospital-fund-depletion-moves-up-4-notes/): The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is estimated to pay full Medicare Part A benefits only through the second quarter of 2033, one quarter earlier than last year’s projection of the third quarter, according to the 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report published June 9.
- [The emerging healthcare model leaders are flocking to](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/the-emerging-healthcare-model-leaders-are-flocking-to/): As the link between oral health and overall wellness becomes more widely recognized among patients, healthcare leaders are looking for more ways to integrate care to enhance patient outcomes.
- [The 4.2x link between staff engagement and patient experience](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/06/the-4-2x-link-between-staff-engagement-and-patient-experience/): Hospitals in the top quartile for employee engagement are 4.2 times more likely to achieve top patient experience scores, according to a Press Ganey report that analyzed feedback from more than 2.6 million healthcare employees and physicians surveyed in 2025.
- [10% increase in nurse responsibility improves retentions by 54%: Study](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/10-increase-in-nurse-responsibility-improves-retentions-by-54-study/): Nurses are less likely to leave when they have greater responsibility for patient care, according to an article published in Harvard Business Review.
- [20 most trusted health system brands](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/20-most-trusted-health-system-brands/): Austin-based UT Health Austin was named the most trusted healthcare brand in Monigle’s “2026 most trusted healthcare brands” section of its Humanizing Brand Experience Vol.
- [How hospitals are fending off a retirement wave](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/how-hospitals-are-fending-off-a-retirement-wave/): While hospitals and health systems work to recruit and retain the next generation of healthcare talent, another group is also top of mind: those nearing retirement age.
- [Where RNs are most concentrated: Rankings by state](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/where-rns-are-most-concentrated-rankings-by-state/): Larger states such as California and Texas employ the highest number of registered nurses nationwide.
- [VA security failed all 30 covert weapons tests: GAO ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/va-security-failed-all-30-covert-weapons-tests-gao/): Department of Veterans Affairs staff did not detect a prohibited weapon that undercover Government Accountability Office investigators brought into any of 30 tested VA medical facilities — including two with metal detectors — according to a GAO report publicly released May 13.
- [Penn Medicine operating income grows to $238M after Doylestown Health acquisition: 6 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/penn-medicine-operating-income-grows-to-238m-after-doylestown-health-acquisition-6-things-to-know/): Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine reported an operating income of $238.5 million (2.4% margin) for the nine months ended March 31, up 46.3% from $163 million (1.9% margin) in the same period last year, according to financial documents filed May 20.
- [RFK Jr. ousts 2 preventive services task force leads ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/rfk-jr-ousts-2-preventive-services-task-force-leads/): HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed the two vice-chairs of the U.S.
- [Mayo Clinic in Florida receives $75M gift](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/mayo-clinic-in-florida-receives-75m-gift/): Jacksonville-based Mayo Clinic in Florida has received a $75 million gift to support its expansion initiative.
- [Former Kentucky system CEO dies](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/former-kentucky-system-ceo-dies/): John Dubis, who spent more than 36 years in healthcare leadership, including as president and CEO of Edgewood, Ky.-based St. Elizabeth Healthcare, died May 14.
- [Civica launches drug shortage program for 225 rural hospitals ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/civica-launches-drug-shortage-program-for-225-rural-hospitals/): The Civica Foundation has received a $3.2 million grant to launch a program aimed at expanding access to generic medications for rural hospitals in nine states.
- [Intermountain digital engagement VP steps down](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/intermountain-digital-engagement-vp-steps-down/): Mona Baset, vice president of digital engagement at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health, is stepping down from her role.
- [MetroHealth to roll out 500 smart rooms](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/metrohealth-to-roll-out-500-smart-rooms/): Cleveland-based MetroHealth System plans to deploy smart technology at 500 patient rooms across five hospitals.
- [States with the most, fewest licensed nurses per capita](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/states-with-the-most-fewest-licensed-nurses-per-capita/): The National Council of State Boards of Nursing found the District of Columbia has the most licensed nurses per capita, while Utah is the state with the fewest for the second year in a row.
- [‘Real consequences for access to care’: CMS’ $775B plan to cut Medicaid funding alarms hospitals ](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/real-consequences-for-access-to-care-cms-775b-plan-to-cut-medicaid-funding-alarms-hospitals/): CMS’ latest proposal to cap certain state Medicaid payments has drawn immediate pushback from hospital groups, which argue the plan will further decrease access to care and destabilize hospitals that rely on supplemental Medicaid funding.
- [Healthcare’s communication puzzle is getting more complex](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/healthcares-communication-puzzle-is-getting-more-complex/): At its heart, improving the patient experience is all about communication. Feedback from patients consistently and overwhelmingly points us to this focus.
- [The most difficult physician specialties to recruit](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/the-most-difficult-physician-specialties-to-recruit/): Fifty-nine percent of healthcare executives said in a recent survey that physician specialists are the most difficult clinical job to fill, but the specialty that is most difficult for systems varies by state.
- [Holyoke Medical Center, Valley Health Systems name COO](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/holyoke-medical-center-valley-health-systems-name-coo/): Carl Cameron was promoted to executive vice president and COO of Holyoke, Mass.-based Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems, according to a May 20 news release shared with Becker’s.
- [3 big shifts for the GLP-1 market](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/3-big-shifts-for-the-glp-1-market/): In 2026, the U.S.
- [Cardiovascular growth at scale: Coordinating remote monitoring across the service line](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/cardiovascular-growth-at-scale-coordinating-remote-monitoring-across-the-service-line/): Cardiovascular service lines are growing fast—and so are the data streams they are expected to manage.
- [Virginia governor vetoes prescription drug pricing bills](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/virginia-governor-vetoes-prescription-drug-pricing-bills/): Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed two bills that would have created a prescription drug pricing system in the state, arguing similar models in other states have failed to lower drug costs.
- [Where PBM reform stands across the US](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/where-pbm-reform-stands-across-the-us/): States are advancing legislation to restrict how pharmacy benefit managers operate.
- [CMS to cap state Medicaid payments to save $775B: 7 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/cms-to-cap-state-medicaid-payments-to-save-775b-7-things-to-know/): CMS on May 20 proposed a rule that would cap certain state Medicaid payments and align them more closely with Medicare rates.
- [Clinicians push to unionize amid staffing, burnout concerns](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/clinicians-push-to-unionize-amid-staffing-burnout-concerns/): Clinicians across the U.S.
- [‘An untenable situation’: Providence to wind down insurance business](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/an-untenable-situation-providence-to-wind-down-insurance-business/): Providence will shutter most of its insurance business beginning in 2027, ending more than 40 years as a regional payer with 440,000 members.
- [US News revises Best Hospitals methodology: 6 things to know](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/us-news-revises-best-hospitals-methodology-6-things-to-know/): U.S. News & World Report said May 20 that it has made significant refinements to its Best Hospitals methodology to reflect changes in care delivery, data availability and measurement science.
- [52 best healthcare employers for new grads: Forbes](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/52-best-healthcare-employers-for-new-grads-forbes/): Fifty-two healthcare companies landed on Forbes’ ninth annual list of America’s Best Employers for New Grads.
- [Top-paying states for 6 nurse positions, adjusted by cost of living](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/top-paying-states-for-6-nurse-positions-adjusted-by-cost-of-living/): Most of the top-paying states for nurses, adjusted for cost of living, are in the Midwest or the West, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
- [23 best healthcare employers for career growth across 8 cities: LinkedIn](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/23-best-healthcare-employers-for-career-growth-across-8-cities-linkedin/): Twenty-three healthcare employers were featured on LinkedIn News’ city-specific top companies lists.
- [Where Americans are moving: 5 trends reshaping healthcare markets](https://staffreliefinc.com/2026/05/where-americans-are-moving-5-trends-reshaping-healthcare-markets/): Celina, Texas, was the fastest-growing U.S. city in the year ending July 1, 2025, with its population increasing 24.6%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

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