U.S. hospitals struggle with evolving demand amid shortages

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — Amid staffing shortages negatively impacting healthcare delivery, U.S. hospitals are also grappling to meet patients’ evolving demands.

Hospital bed occupancy in America has been above 70% every week since at least October 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

This has affected not just patient care but also healthcare firm’s expansion initiatives. They cannot expand their footprint to other towns in need of services if they do have a robust talent pool.

“So one of the big challenges that we’re facing is how to care for all of these patients without having the space to do so, which requires innovation in our processes and how we deliver the care,” said Amanda Mewborn, group vice president for Advocate Health Group, per Bisnow.

Grady Health System, which specializes in trauma care like gunshot wounds or injuries from vehicle collisions, has needed to expand beyond its central Downtown Atlanta campus and into the suburban areas of Fulton and DeKalb counties, flooding Grady with additional patients. 

“The inner-city hospitals cannot handle the sheer volume that we have. You know, we’ve already done three expansions, and we’re still already doubled and tripled up in some of the rooms,” said Thomas Lemieux, the former director of Grady’s facilities development division.

Additionally, patients nowadays are not content with being tended to. They want a connection with the nurse or physician on top of accessibility.

“What people want is they want everything now. They don’t want convenience. They want access. They want to be treated [with] tons of hospitality,” Anchor Health Properties Executive Vice President Mervyn Alphonso said. “You may have beautiful facilities, but if the perception is that… I’m not getting that patient service, expect that I’m not going to go there.”

Lemieux noted that some hospitals are utilizing artificial intelligence in its operations, such as the filling out of questionnaires and incorporating automated wearables that monitor vitals and take blood samples. This allows nurses to focus on other things such as keeping a close eye on the patient.

Amid these initiatives, Lemieux is aware that not all organizations are equipped with AI.

“People are just used to that technology,” he said. “All of a sudden, you go to some place that doesn’t have that, it does frustrate people.”