The Noblis Center for Health Innovation Forecasts 2009 Trends In Provider Health...

The Noblis Center for Health Innovation Forecasts 2009 Trends In Provider
Health Care Delivery

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- With access to capital becoming more
restricted accompanied by a significant decline in philanthropic giving,
dwindling investment income, increasing bad debt and growing charity care,
many hospitals and health systems are extremely vulnerable.

In the wake of the current economic crisis, here are the five most significant
issues that will impact provider health care delivery in 2009, as predicted by
the Noblis Center for Health Innovation, a leading non-profit advisory firm to
health providers:

1. Consumer demands will continue to change

-- Healthcare utilization will be stable or even decline as consumers
delay in seeking routine care.
-- Consumers will continue to seek medical information/knowledge via
Web resources.
-- Medical travel will increase, expanding the competitive environment.

2. Budgets will be trimmed and capital investments delayed

-- Margins will decline, negatively affecting investment income,
philanthropy, interest payments, unemployment, cash flow, bad debt,
and charity care.
-- The economic downturn will force most hospitals to trim their
operating budgets in 2009, resulting in hiring freezes of
non-clinical staff, lay-offs, and other expense reductions.
-- The credit market will tighten further and bond ratings will fall,
limiting hospitals ability to access capital.
-- The recent health care construction boom will continue, but at a
much slower rate.

3. The health care industry will consolidate even further

-- Hospitals that have historically relied on investment income,
municipal funding of indigent and charity care, and low interest
rate credit lines will experience an increase in bankruptcies,
program closures, and/or hospital closures.
-- Small hospitals and rural hospitals will be the most at risk in
today's economy.

4. The workforce will be in transition

-- Physician responses to their own financial uncertainties will vary,
but will include slowed/delayed retirements, seeking
employment/practice purchase, and decreased acceptance of no
pay/slow pay (including Medicaid) patients.
-- Innovative staffing alternatives will be explored by hospitals and
physicians as they seek ways to operate more efficiently and expand
volumes without adding cost.
-- Nursing vacancies may lessen with some inactive nurses returning to
the workforce.

5. Health reform will not be universal, but it will be everywhere

-- Healthcare reform will be a high priority on the national level
although significant national system reform is unlikely in the
short term.
-- Hospitals will increase efforts to fund care for their uninsured
patients.

To request a copy of the full 2009 health trends white paper and/or to
schedule an interview with Susie Krentz, director of the Noblis Center for
Health Innovation or with another member of the leadership team, please
contact Jorge Lavina, jlavina@cooperkatz.com or 917-595-3047, Katy Layton,
klayton@cooperkatz.com or 917-595-3057 or Amy Lee, alee@cooperkatz.com or
917-595-3055.

About the Noblis Center for Health Innovation:
The Noblis Center for Health Innovation assists private-sector and government
health organizations in achieving their missions through integrative and
collaborative advisory services and research. It combines strategic thinking
with innovation to support clients' planning and performance needs. For more
information, please visit www.noblis.org/Healthcare.

SOURCE Noblis

Jorge Lavina, +1-917-595-3047, jlavina@cooperkatz.com, or Katy Layton,
+1-917-595-3057, klayton@cooperkatz.com, or Amy Lee, +1-917-595-3055,
alee@cooperkatz.com, all for Noblis