The American College of Healthcare Executives' annual survey also found that financial challenges, usually the top concern, was listed as the second concern.
The top issue that hospital CEOs faced in 2021 has changed for the first time since 2004.
In the past, CEOs listed financial challenges as their top concern, but after 17 years there is a new frontrunner, according to The American College of Healthcare Executives' (ACHE) annual survey.
While staffing and personnel shortages aren't a new concern for healthcare executives, it climbed the ranks as the top contender last year, thanks to increased burnout and competition during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the personnel shortages, CEOs are most concerned about registered nurses (94%), technicians (85%), and therapists (67%). They are also concerned about nonclinical positions as well.
"Both long- and short-term solutions are needed to address the shortages in critical front-line staff shown in our study to ensure hospitals have workforces that can meet the demands for safe, high-quality care both today and in the future," Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, president and CEO of ACHE, said in a statement. "Longer term solutions include increasing the pipeline of staff to these positions, as well as organization-level efforts to increase staff retention. More immediate solutions include supporting and developing all staff, building staff resilience, and exploring alternative models of care."
The survey respondents, which are community hospital CEOs who are ACHE members, were asked to rank how 11 issues on how pressing they are for their organization.
Following staffing issues and financial challenges, the other issues that CEOs of community hospitals faced in 2021 were ranked:
3. Patient safety and quality
4. Behavior health/addiction issues
5. Governmental mandates
6. Access to care
7. Patient satisfaction
8. Physician and hospital relations
9. Technology
10. Population health management
11. Reorganization, which includes m&A, organization restructuring, and partnerships
The survey states that "the issues cited by survey respondents are those of immediate concern and do not necessarily reflect ongoing hospital priorities."
Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.