May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the deep connection between physical and mental health.
Despite widespread efforts to standardize patient care for efficiency, achieving consistent reductions in length of stay (LOS) across complex patient populations remains a critical challenge.
While hospitals understandably prioritize financial investment in acute services for program optimization, staffing and resource allocation, health leaders recognize the substantial benefits of post-acute care in improving patient outcomes, length of stay and readmission risk.
Hospitals are facing significant financial challenges, including rising supply and labor costs, increasing regulatory burdens, and other operating pressures. Moreover, 40% of hospitals are operating in the red, and 31% of rural hospitals are at risk of closing, notes a Kaufman Hall report.
As behavioral health cases surge, overwhelming EDs, hospitals and staff, health leaders are seeking solutions to manage this growing crisis without diverting resources from core services.
Value-based care (VBC), a CMS initiative, drives hospitals to deliver high-quality, affordable care by focusing on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services provided.
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Recruiting and retaining quality clinical staff remains a top priority for hospitals and health systems this year.
Inpatient rehabilitation provides comprehensive therapy in a hospital setting for patients recovering from serious illnesses, injuries or surgeries. As the most intensive form of rehabilitation, it's designed to help patients regain their independence and return to the community.
Nearly 50% of women in the U.S. identify their obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) as their main medical provider. This means they often discuss mental health concerns with their OBGYN, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, substance abuse and trauma.
