Pennsylvania’s Hospitals and Health Systems

Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems offers safe and quality health care services to a large number of people. According to Wiley, Lindsay, and Gene, the healthcare organizations contribute greatly to the growth of the local and state economies (96). Additionally, the healthcare facilities are leaders in the changing healthcare system; and helps patients to stay healthy and manage their healthcare needs. The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania is one of the leading force for the welfare of Pennsylvanians. The member hospitals offers healthcare services across the continuum of care. The Pennsylvania Hospitals are motivated to enhance health outcomes and cost effective medical care for the patients.

Primarily, Pennsylvania hospitals and health system are committed to provide healthcare services. However, changes in healthcare delivery system has resulted in changes to the hospital and healthcare sector. Statistics indicate that the number of licensed acute care system have declined significantly. As a result, fewer hospitals are providing healthcare services to more patients in an efficient manner. Because the number of specialized facilities has increased, Pennsylvania is likely to experience a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs). Moreover, the state has been experiencing a shortage of physicians in radiology, cardiology, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Therefore, the healthcare facilities might not operate sustainably resulting from the numerous challenges.

According to Wiek, Arnim, and Olaf Weber, Pennsylvania hospitals have been experiencing financial challenges as a result of uncompensated care (19). In 2012, one fifth of the Pennsylvania acute care facilities struggled financially. Resulting from the financial challenges, the hospitals might not be in a position to provide effective healthcare services to their clients. Apparently, financial constraints might affect the overall quality of healthcare to the patients. According to Rhodes et al, the hospitals might experience debt burdens in the process of operation, thus, not able to pay salaries to the medical practitioners (1376). Consequently, the healthcare facilities might face a severe shortage of workers. Furthermore, the hospitals might not afford to purchase new technological equipment or train their member of staffs. If they fail to keep up with changes in technology, the hospitals will be more likely to lose most of the patients and overall revenue.

What the Hospitals can do differently 

Uncompensated care is one of the major challenge for the Pennsylvania Hospitals. Therefore, the management should focus on identifying the patients and set for them equitable payment plans and financial assistance programs. As a result, the healthcare facilities will be in a better position to reduce the amount of uncollected debts from the clients. Besides, the hospitals can increase the likelihood of reducing financial burdens if they can provide the patients with manageable payment plans. Furthermore, the hospitals can improve management strategies and enhance transparency as a strategy to ensure that the finances are being utilized effectively. Most importantly, the management should monitor the behaviour of financial officers and hold them accountable for any mistakes.

Apparently, shortage of Registered Nurses and other practitioners is a prevalent issue in Pennsylvania. Therefore, the executives should ensure that they allow the practitioners a flexible schedule in undertaking their obligations. According to Shipley, a flexible work-life schedule is one of the motivation factors for the workers (34). If the management can provide flexible scheduling for the nursing practitioners, the practitioners can be in a better position to manage stress. The executives should give the nurses an opportunity to further their education. As a result, the Registered Nurse will be more loyal to the hospitals, thus, enhancing delivery of healthcare services to the patients.

Work Cited

Rhodes, Karin V., et al. “Pennsylvania’s Medical Home Initiative: Reductions in Healthcare Utilization and Cost Among Medicaid Patients with Medicaland Psychiatric Comorbidities.” Journal of general internal medicine 31.11 (2016): 1373-1381.

Shipley, Michael. Factors Contributing To Registered Nurse Job Satisfaction In the Nursing Home. Diss. Seton Hall University, 2015.

Wiek, Arnim, and Olaf Weber. “Sustainability challenges and the ambivalent role of the financial sector.” Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment 4.1 (2014): 9-20.

Wiley, Lindsay F., and Gene W. Matthews. “Health care system transformation and integration: A call to action for public health.” The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics45.1_suppl (2017): 94-97.