Strategic Investments in the OR

Surgical Information Systems, December 10, 2009

The current economic downturn has not spared hospital organizations. With capital markets inaccessible to many hospitals, the financing for major investments and physical plant expansion is suddenly unavailable. Additionally, income from hospital endowments, which is often dependent on equity investments, has been dramatically reduced. All of this has occurred within a very short timeframe, giving hospitals little time to react and prepare for this economic downturn; the end of which is not clearly in sight. In some markets, demand for elective surgery is down as much as 30% as patients either postpone surgical decisions based on a lack of insurance coverage or fear that a medical leave will jeopardize their current employment.