Mid-May and we are already experiencing what is seemingly early heat and humidity with the possibility of a weather disturbance over the Bahamas developing into a tropical depression….what the heck! As much as the heat and possible storm affect us, we can handle it. What I am not as sure about is our ability to handle healthcare workforce shortages that appear to be a constant thorn in our side for now and for years to come.

Come and join us on June 15th at the Signature Grand for our 17th Annual Healthcare Summit that will look at the issues surrounding our healthcare Workforce. Go to our website (www.SFHHA.com ) and click on the “Events” tab or look for our event ad in this issue of South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report.

Healthcare workforce development is crucial for maintaining a robust and skilled healthcare workforce, which is essential for delivering quality patient care and addressing the healthcare needs of the population. Whether enough is happening to support healthcare workforce development depends on how much effort governments, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders are putting forth to make this a perennial priority.

Here are some of the common strategies and initiatives that support healthcare workforce development that we will discuss at our conference:

Training and education: Providing comprehensive and accessible training programs, continuing education opportunities, and skill development initiatives for healthcare professionals.

Recruitment and retention: Implementing strategies to attract and retain healthcare professionals, such as competitive compensation packages, professional development opportunities, and supportive work environments.

Collaboration and partnerships: Facilitating collaborations between healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to share resources, expertise, and best practices in healthcare workforce development.

Scholarships and financial incentives: Offering scholarships, grants, loan forgiveness programs, or other financial incentives to encourage individuals to pursue healthcare careers or practice in underserved areas.

Telehealth and technology integration: Leveraging telehealth and other technological advancements to expand access to healthcare services and enhance healthcare workforce efficiency.

Research and data-driven decision-making: Conducting research on healthcare workforce needs, trends, and challenges to inform policy and decision-making, and ensuring that workforce planning is aligned with the evolving healthcare landscape.

Diversity and inclusion: Promoting diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce to ensure representation from different backgrounds and perspectives, which can enhance cultural competence and improve patient outcomes.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you on June 15th. You can sponsor/register today by going to our website.

 



“Bed Bath & Beyond (BB&B) tanked premarket after filing for Chapter 11 yesterday. It plans to shut all stores and liquidate inventory by June 30. The big-box chain, which still hopes for a buyer, expects net proceeds of about $718 million from sales.” [Bloomberg The Open April 24]

Sobering news from a stalwart big-box chain that just couldn’t remain competitive and that failed to pivot during the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. Those arm-length economic transactions that became so vital in a “lockdown” economy just didn’t keep pace. I, for one, will be disappointed to see them leave the market.

These shocking headlines aren’t only reflective of what’s happening in the consumer goods sector, it is also impacting other sectors, including healthcare. In a recent article in Modern Healthcare [Friday, April 21, Modern Healthcare’s Don’t Miss] entitled, “When safety-net hospitals close, what happens to nearby providers?” we see the BB&B scenario playing out in healthcare. “I have been a CEO since 1988, and this is the worst operating environment I have ever seen,” said Michael Young, president and CEO of Temple University Health System, which operates safety-net hospitals in Philadelphia. “We are going to continue to see closures of not just services and programs, but entire safety-net hospitals.”

It is probable that some tertiary hospitals may face economic challenges in the future due to various factors such as rising healthcare costs, changes in healthcare policies and regulations, and increasing competition. However, it is important to note that the situation may vary depending on the location and specific circumstances of each hospital.

Tertiary hospitals often provide specialized care and services that are not available at other healthcare facilities, making them an essential part of the healthcare system. They may also have access to more advanced technology and equipment, which can attract patients seeking high-quality care. These factors may help some tertiary hospitals to maintain their financial stability.

However, tertiary hospitals may also face financial pressure due to increasing healthcare costs, including the cost of new technologies and drugs, as well as the cost of attracting and retaining highly skilled medical professionals. Changes in healthcare policies and regulations may also have an impact on their economic sustainability, especially if they result in reduced reimbursement rates or increased administrative burden.

To survive economically, tertiary hospitals may need to explore new revenue streams, such as partnerships with other healthcare providers, offering specialized services or programs, and improving operational efficiency. They may also need to consider implementing cost-saving measures, such as reducing waste and optimizing their use of resources.

Overall, while some tertiary hospitals may face economic challenges in the future, it is important to recognize their critical role in the healthcare system and support their efforts to maintain financial sustainability. It is in all of our best interests!

In this community we rely on our tertiary and quaternary hospitals/systems and protecting those community resources is a community responsibility.



Readers of these articles know that I often like to take a moment and look back to see what history has taught us. And, parenthetically, if we are listening. In this article, now that the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis is in our rearview mirror, I wondered what advancements we are enjoying as a result.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several medical advancements and breakthroughs. Here are a few examples:

  1. COVID-19 vaccines: The development of COVID-19 vaccines was a major medical achievement, with several vaccines being approved and made available to the public within a year of the pandemic’s emergence. This is a significant accomplishment, as the development of vaccines typically takes years or even decades.
  1. Telemedicine: With the need for social distancing, telemedicine became more widely adopted as a way for patients to consult with doctors and receive medical advice remotely. This has the potential to improve access to healthcare, especially for those who live in rural or underserved areas.
  1. Rapid testing: The pandemic also led to the development of rapid testing methods that can provide results within minutes or hours. This has been crucial in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and could have broader applications in diagnosing other infectious diseases.
  1. Collaboration and data sharing: The global response to COVID-19 has involved unprecedented collaboration between scientists, researchers, and public health officials around the world. This has led to the sharing of data and knowledge that has helped to advance our understanding of the virus and develop effective treatments.

Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of medical research and innovation and has accelerated the development of new technologies and approaches that could have far-reaching benefits for public health. Further, I believe that this new/old threat (pandemics) has hastened the changing of the traditional medical practice paradigm that is going to bring ever changing healthcare dynamics with market disruptors figuring out how to build that mouse trap just a little better.

Healthcare is going to change so dramatically over the next decade that, in one sense, it is so amazing and in another, a bit scary. We are all on the train of change, holding on for our dear lives, while at the same time admiring the view!



By Jaime Caldwell, President of SFHHA

I was explaining to a potential member about the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association and said about our knowledge that it was “several miles wide, but only an inch deep.” As a small hospital and healthcare trade association with tight staffing, it is not possible for us to gain depth of knowledge at the expense of not doing other things required by the Association. Therefore, periodically, I like to do a swim around the pond and identify areas of current or growing importance.

Medicaid continuous enrollment. Since mid-2020 states that accepted enhanced Medicaid funding agreed to not do annual Medicaid redetermination process to assure that all the persons on the state Medicaid rolls are still eligible. With the wild swings in the labor market during the strong COVID-19 years of 2021-22, it made sense as people found themselves employed and unemployed with some frequency. Recent Congressional action has negated that requirement for no redeterminations and now states are in the process of doing redeterminations and they must be completed by May 2024.

Why is this important? Well, it is estimated that anywhere between 15 and 18 million people will lose coverage. Worse, an estimated 6.7 million children will lose their CHIP coverage! A Georgetown University Center for Children and Families study, “found that 72 percent of children will likely lose coverage because of state bureaucratic issues, not because of ineligibility. According to the report, the nation’s uninsured rate for children (5 percent in 2021) could more than double if states do not redetermine eligibility correctly.” [Becker’s]

Texas board charges 23 nurses in fake degree. Sadly, we are likely going to see more issues involving the issuance of fake degrees. While this headline was from Texas, Florida already had its scandal (likely more to come). This has implications for the students, some who claimed they were duped, and to healthcare providers who hired these candidates in good faith. There will be more.

And, on some lighter notes … COVID vaccines. A new global strategy was just released, “for developing vaccines that are broadly protective against future coronavirus threats.” Arguing that three times over the last 20 years a “coronavirus has emerged to cause a public health crisis,” it seems about time that we took a more exhaustive look.  Amazon closes $3.9B One Medical deal. Primary care subscription service … add it to your PRIME membership! And, yes, CBS has renewed Ghosts, Young Sheldon, The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola, Night Court, and several of the NCISs.



While not many “good” things happened throughout the pandemic, one good thing that did happen was that Medicaid was there to support the many people who became qualified for coverage as our economy suffered.

Yes, 5.6+ million Floridians currently receive Medicaid benefits, or about a quarter of the state’s population. For many, this coverage is about to end. Primarily due to the economic impacts resulting from the epidemic, Florida has added almost 1.8 million additional people to the Medicaid roll since 2020.

“At the start of the pandemic, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which included a requirement that Medicaid programs keep people continuously enrolled through the end of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends, in exchange for enhanced federal funding.” (Keiser Family Foundation) Well, the end of the public health emergency is about to happen.

CMS has required states to submit plans that explain how they are going to “unwind” their rolls. States have submitted various processes for approval and one method that will be used in Florida to look at continued eligibility is the most recent individual earnings data. In a recent legislative meeting, it was offered that almost 900,000 people no longer quality to receive Medicaid benefits and will be removed from the roll.

Another 850,000 people are targeted because either they have failed to respond to information requests or they haven’t used Medicaid benefits over the last two years. For Medicaid beneficiaries who may have moved, once, twice, or more over the last two years, they are in danger of losing their benefits, as mailed questionnaires likely have not found them.

For many of these individuals, other options may not be available. Because Florida did not expand Medicaid, families earning under the Federal Poverty Limits are not eligible to receive subsidies under the government run health exchanges. Said Erica Monet Li, a policy analyst at Florida Policy Institute, “This is a historic number of Floridians to potentially lose health coverage — one in 22 people — and all within the span of under 12 months.”

2023 will, indeed, be an interesting year.