Hospitals

Cybersecurity leads ECRI's list of top medtech hazards for 2022

Cyber incidents can compromise patient care and attacks against hospitals have become more prevalent in recent years. However, ECRI said the worst consequences are preventable.

By Elise Reuter • Jan. 19, 2022

CMS extends COVID-19 vaccine deadline for health workers in 24 states

New guidance from CMS sets different vaccine deadlines for healthcare workers in half the country, which could create confusion. Further complicating compliance is Texas' current shield from any deadline.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 18, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Vertical integration and consolidation

Healthcare companies merging with subsectors of the industry is a growing trend, although certainly not a new one.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Why your growth depends on an EHR integration strategy and 8 steps to get you there

Eight project steps that every data integration requires, from planning to go-live to scaling.

Jan. 18, 2022

Pandemic stresses physicians as they reevaluate careers, work-life balance

About 60% of female physicians and 53% of male physicians said they would take a pay cut to have better work-life balance, Medscape's survey found.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 14, 2022

Providers concerned about staffing shortages post-SCOTUS vaccination mandate ruling

Nursing facilities are particularly worried about the strain a vaccination mandate could have on their shrinking workforce, and are urging CMS to consider a regular testing option for unvaccinated workers.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 14, 2022

SCOTUS narrowly upholds health worker vaccine mandate

The court's liberal justices agree with the government that CMS has the authority to impose the requirement, just one of many healthcare organizations must comply with to be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid funding.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 13, 2022

UHS details omicron's hit, shares dip

The health system has enough beds and ventilators but sometimes not enough staff, echoing concerns from other providers across the nation crushed by the latest wave of coronavirus patients with the fast-spreading omicron variant.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 12, 2022

Healthcare roles dominate U.S. News 2022 list of best jobs

Information security analyst took the top spot in the annual list, followed by nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical and health services manager and software developer.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 11, 2022

Hospitals turned to M&A to shore up core operations last year

The financial pressures, supply chain disruptions and labor challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic drove hospitals to seek out merger partners that could help expand their presence in key markets.

By Susan Kelly • Jan. 11, 2022

SCOTUS justices leave opening for healthcare worker vaccine mandate

The key question is whether the agencies enacting federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates — OSHA and CMS — had the authority to do so, or whether that power falls to the states.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 7, 2022

Stryker to buy Vocera Communications for nearly $3B

The multibillion-dollar buy is medtech's first major deal of 2022, following a spending spree in the sector last year. Stryker's stock price was slightly down Thursday, but Vocera's rose by nearly 27%.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 6, 2022

Unions petition to keep OSHA pandemic protections for health workers in place

"The grave danger that led to issuance of the emergency temporary standard not only remains, but has dramatically increased with the omicron variant and current surge in infections and hospitalizations," National Nurses United said.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 6, 2022

Chicago-area systems NorthShore, Edward-Elmhurst Health finalize merger

The union gives NorthShore a footprint in the region's western suburbs with the addition of two general acute hospitals and one focused on behavioral health.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 6, 2022

Hospitals' labor expenses rose again just before omicron arrival, report finds

Expenses outpaced revenue growth as hospitals continued grappling with nationwide staffing shortages in November, according to Kaufman Hall.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 5, 2022

Medtechs brace for hit as hospitals warn of omicron impact on surgeries

Healthcare staff shortages and rising COVID-19 admissions are forcing hospitals to cancel elective surgeries and postpone diagnostic and imaging procedures.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 5, 2022

Nurses at Massachusetts Tenet hospital ratify contract, ending 9-month strike

The deal includes some staffing improvements that were top priorities for nurses, including limits on how many patients can be assigned in certain hospital units, along with wage increases, the union said.

By Hailey Mensik • Jan. 4, 2022

HCA buys urgent care chain in Florida

The hospital operator continues to double down on the Florida market where it has invested $3 billion in new hospitals and facility renovations over the past three years.

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 4, 2022

UnitedHealthcare permanently shelves controversial ER coverage changes following confusion

Following concerns from hospitals regarding an apparent change to its ER coverage policy, the payer clarified no changes were made — or will be made — to how it approves or denies its members' emergency claims.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 4, 2022

Tenet completes $1B surgery center acquisition

This is the second billion-dollar deal with SurgCenter Development as Tenet continues building out its surgery center footprint, a key component of its long-term strategy.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 23, 2021

Supreme Court sets Jan. 7 hearing on vaccine mandate rules

The justices will hear arguments on the requirement that healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated amid a flurry of legal challenges.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 23, 2021

SCOTUS upholds another state vaccine mandate

The high court blocked a challenge to New Mexico's statewide vaccine mandate for healthcare workers Tuesday. The CMS vaccine mandate remains in place, though injunctions in some states still stand.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 22, 2021

UPMC launches in-house travel staffing agency

The system said it can hire two of its own nurses or surgical technologists for the price of one contracted through an outside agency.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 21, 2021

Biden administration to send military medical personnel to overwhelmed hospitals

As the omicron variant spreads rapidly, the White House is mobilizing federal agencies to assist hospitals and states in the latest wave of infection.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 21, 2021

After intense pushback, Biogen to cut price of Alzheimer's drug

Effective Jan. 1, the average list price for Aduhelm will drop about 50% to just over $28,000 a year. It's a move the company hopes will appease insurers and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.

By Jacob Bell • Dec. 20, 2021

Nurses, Tenet hospital reach deal 9 months into strike

Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital are set to vote Jan. 3 to ratify a new contract after labor leaders and management reached a tentative agreement Friday. The nurses also agreed to suspend picketing outside the hospital until the vote.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Dec. 21, 2021