National Hospital Week is a time to recognize and honor our hospitals and healthcare systems — and the physicians, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, therapists, and many other devoted professionals who work tirelessly to provide 24/7 medical care.
Local hospitals are cornerstones of our health and the health of our communities. Across the country, more than 5,000 hospitals and healthcare systems help ensure that individuals from all walks of life have access to high-quality care. They treat every person that comes through their doors. They’re the only facilities that provide emergency services every hour of every day. They provide specialized and coordinated care, even for the most complex conditions. And in many areas, local hospitals are the only places to access vital services — from labor and delivery and NICUs to trauma care and burn units. Simply put, from everyday illnesses and injuries to life-saving treatments and complex care, individuals and families count on hospitals to get the care they need, when and where they need it.
The role that hospitals and health systems play is even more essential in rural areas and other underserved communities, where other access points to healthcare can be in short supply. And on average, compared to other kinds of facilities, hospitals care for patients who are more seriously ill, who require longer stays, who need more complex care, and who are less likely to be insured. America’s hospitals serve as a healthcare safety net that ensures vulnerable patients are not left behind.
The many ways that America’s hospitals serve their communities and our healthcare system go beyond the care they provide to patients. Hospitals and health systems are also engines of innovation that pioneer new treatments, improve clinical outcomes, and upgrade patient safety standards at scale. In addition, we rely on hospitals and health systems as the training grounds where each new generation of physicians and caregivers receives their indispensable hands-on training.
While we honor hospitals and their work this National Hospital Week, it is also a moment to acknowledge and confront the serious challenges our hospitals face. The COVID pandemic both brought to light and accelerated many of the pressures that hospitals are struggling to overcome.
Fresh off a historically challenging year financially in 2022 in which over half of hospitals closed out the year operating at a loss, many hospitals spent much of 2023 simply struggling to break even. Economy-wide inflation grew by 12.4 percent between 2021 and 2023 – more than two times faster than Medicare reimbursement for hospital inpatient care. Since the start of 2022, the number of days cash on hand for hospitals and health systems has declined by 28.3 percent.
This week, we celebrate our hospitals, healthcare systems, and the men and women behind them. But we also remember that, just like maintaining our own health takes continual effort and attention, so does protecting and preserving our hospitals. Ensuring Americans’ access to high-quality, affordable healthcare is a continual effort will take partnership, proactive collaboration, and a focus on the future. At the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, we look forward to working with policymakers at all levels to support our hospitals and strengthen patient access to the healthcare they need.