Hospitals and health systems will face increased demands from the government and patients this year, forcing them to do more with less, according to some experts.
A new report issued by VHA, Inc., an Irving, Texas-based national network of not-for-profit healthcare organizations, says healthcare executives must use a new mindset in 2010. They’ll need to be more proactive in their management style and able to identify potential issues in their organization.
To survive – and possibly thrive – in 2010, healthcare executives will need to tighten collaborations within their own organizations, VHA experts said.
VHA's industry-specific predictions for 2010 also include advice on Medicare’s new Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program. RACs are expected to create organizational, financial and manpower challenges for hospitals, and the complexity of the program will require an early response plan.
There is some good news in the VHA report. Experts said they expect capital spending pressures to ease in early 2010, which should allow hospitals to fund new purchases and replace equipment.
Unlike spending for supplies, delaying or deferring new capital purchases doesn’t eliminate the need to replace equipment. New technologies will be developed, forcing hospitals to upgrade, VHA experts said.