Mounting margin pressures are driving structural changes in the healthcare industry, according to a recent survey. Hospital systems are consolidating, integrating, accepting accountability, and centralizing supply chains, an article on the Healthcare Construction + Operations website.
The average suburban hospital margins are around 4 percent, but will decline to 0 percent, due to unfavorable payer-mix shifts and reimbursement declines, the survey said.
Due to this and other factors, hospitals are consolidating and integrating with other care settings.
Survey respondents said their most pressing needs are reduced costs and improved efficiency.