Myles Martinez on LinkedIn: Why More Than 30% of Rural Hospitals Are at Risk of Closure - MedCity News (2024)

Despite Scripps Chula Vista closing its maternity ward on June 23, pregnant women continue to arrive at its emergency department needing obstetric services. This has occurred despite three months of publicizing the closure. Scripps reported 37 obstetrics patients arriving since the closure, averaging about one per day.- Many expecting mothers have shifted to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, resulting in a 47% increase in deliveries there.- This surge has caused occasional overflow situations in Sharp's labor and - neonatal intensive care units.- Scripps had initially planned for patients to go to Scripps Mercy in Hillcrest, but many opted for Sharp due to its proximity.Local residents, like Ruben Alvarez and Mara Romero, found it more practical to deliver at Sharp, considering transportation challenges and familiarity with the area.- Scripps has ensured safe transfers to other hospitals, but concerns about potential complications during transit remain.- Despite these challenges, no major negative outcomes have been reported so far.- The California Department of Public Health is monitoring the situation to ensure compliance with regulations.https://lnkd.in/gG8v68sc

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Amazon is diving deeper into healthcare with a focus on artificial intelligence. Their hybrid primary care company, One Medical, uses AI to automate nonclinical tasks. Amazon Pharmacy leverages AI for predictive and batching decisions, speeding up medication delivery.An Amazon spokesperson highlighted the heavy administrative burden in healthcare, leading to higher costs and less provider-patient interaction. They emphasized the potential of generative AI to enhance the healthcare experience.AI is a major focus for Big Tech in healthcare. Google partners with HCA Healthcare for AI-driven emergency department summaries and nurse handoffs, while Microsoft's Nuance leads in AI-powered clinical documentation.https://lnkd.in/gUKranNR

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Humana’s CenterWell is making a major move to expand its senior-focused primary care services by opening 23 new clinics within Walmart locations across four states. This initiative aligns with a broader trend in healthcare, where providers and primary care organizations are restructuring their real estate to enhance convenience for patients. Here’s what you need to know:Expansion Details:- Locations: Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas- Brands: CenterWell and Conviva- Timeline: Fully operational by the first half of 2025Strategic Partnership:- Space Utilization: Repurposing previous Walmart clinic spaces- Objective: To offer greater access to integrated senior care.Patient-Centric Design:- Features: Dedicated entrances, easy parking- Goal: Transforming healthcare visits from a chore to a positive experience.Leadership Insight:Sanjay Shetty, M.D., president of CenterWell: "These nearly two dozen primary care centers are specifically designed for seniors... offers patients the access that they have come to expect at our clinics across the nation."Walmart’s Perspective:Brian Setzer, EVP of Walmart Health & Wellness: "Leasing these spaces to a well-known and successful healthcare delivery organization is a win for customers and patients."This trend of prioritizing convenience is key for organizations like CenterWell. Patients are increasingly seeking easy access, efficient treatment, and a seamless healthcare experience. By strategically placing clinics in Walmart stores, CenterWell is perfectly positioned to meet these needs and continue its rapid growth.https://lnkd.in/gyEwsRgn

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The affordability of new weight-loss drugs like Zepbound may depend on their effectiveness in treating conditions like sleep apnea.Key Points:- Clinical Trial Participation: Damon Sedgwick, a technology business analyst, joined a trial to test if Eli Lilly’s anti-obesity drug Zepbound could alleviate his sleep apnea.- Medical Hypothesis: Significant weight loss from Zepbound could open airways, reducing sleep apnea symptoms.- Business Implications: Demonstrating additional health benefits of drugs like Zepbound could persuade insurers to cover these expensive medications, currently costing over $1,300 monthly out-of-pocket.- Insurance Coverage: Historically, health plans avoid paying for weight-loss drugs. However, proving benefits like improved sleep apnea might change this stance.- Study Outcomes: Positive results could lead to a significant increase in drug sales. For instance, if Zepbound is validated for sleep apnea, it could mean an additional $5 billion in sales.- FDA Approvals and Medicare: Recent approvals, like Wegovy’s for reducing cardiovascular risk, have led to some Medicare plans covering these drugs for patients with cardiovascular disease.- Potential Market Impact: Successful results could transform treatment for conditions like sleep apnea, akin to the impact of CPAP therapy.- Significant Findings: In studies, Zepbound reduced sleep apnea severity by over 60%, with many participants returning to normal breathing.- Future Prospects: Eli Lilly has applied for FDA approval for Zepbound to treat sleep apnea, with a decision expected by the end of the year.These developments highlight the potential for weight-loss drugs to provide broader health benefits, which could make them more accessible and affordable through insurance coverage.https://lnkd.in/gx6nJQfR

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Exciting Developments in Healthcare Real Estate. The Riverside University Health System (RUHS) and PMB are leading the way with their new 445,000-square-foot Wellness Village, a project set to revolutionize healthcare by 2026. This innovative development integrates behavioral health treatment with medical care and social services, reflecting a growing trend in healthcare real estate.Why is this important? Integrated wellness facilities like this reduce logistical and financial burdens on patients, fostering collaboration among healthcare providers and improving patient outcomes. By combining medical care, social services, and behavioral health, we can create a more holistic approach to healthcare.Industry leaders like Didier Choukroun of SPHERE Investments are also pushing boundaries, focusing on social drivers of healthcare such as environment, nutrition, education, and housing. This broader perspective is crucial for enhancing senior living and care.https://lnkd.in/gKYKFJMU

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Scripps Health is closing its maternity unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista and consolidating services at its Hillcrest location to expand adult specialties. This change has sparked concerns about access to maternity care, particularly for low-income and emergency patients, leading to local protests. In response, Scripps has trained emergency personnel for obstetric emergencies and ensured the availability of necessary equipment. The transition includes notifying first responders and establishing protocols for emergency deliveries, while efforts are also being made to accommodate increased maternity volume at nearby hospitals like Sharp Chula Vista.https://lnkd.in/gcu3bgrx

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The Federal Reserve maintained its interest rates at 5.25-5.5 percent for the seventh consecutive meeting, indicating a slower-than-expected easing of monetary policy, much to the disappointment of the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. The Fed's focus remains on reducing inflation to 2 percent before considering rate cuts, projecting only one cut in 2024, down from earlier estimates of three. Despite some optimism from improved CPI data and low delinquency rates in the CRE sector, the industry faces challenges with higher borrowing costs, with many loans now maturing at rates significantly above those at origination. CRE professionals, attending the CREFC conference, hope for future rate reductions if inflation trends favorably, although experts stress the importance of long-term rates for the sector's stability.https://lnkd.in/ghtsKJCe 2024/utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Fed+Decision+and+CRE&utm_content=SFR+A-OK

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Banner Health has partnered with Qventus to enhance its operating room (OR) efficiency through AI-powered automation technology. This initiative addresses the challenge of manual OR scheduling and operational inefficiencies, which often result in underutilized OR time. By integrating Qventus' perioperative solution, Banner Health aims to streamline processes, reduce the burden on perioperative and clinical staff, and improve timely patient care. Initial results from a six-month pilot at four major facilities show significant improvements, including increased OR access, better block management, and higher surgical case growth. The technology's predictive analytics and real-time insights have enabled the health system to add more cases per OR and surgical robot, thereby maximizing resource use and achieving a quick return on investment. Banner Health now plans to implement this solution across its entire network to further optimize its operations and enhance patient care delivery.https://lnkd.in/gSpGGVqS

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Hospitals and health systems are increasingly using drones to improve home-based care by addressing supply chain challenges. These challenges include transportation delays due to geography, weather, traffic, and courier availability. Notable initiatives include partnerships between the Mayo Clinic and Zipline, and Mass General Brigham with Draganfly, to facilitate drone deliveries for their home-based acute care programs. These drones deliver medical supplies and tests swiftly, enhancing patient access and care management. Other health systems, including Intermountain Health and Michigan Medicine, are also exploring drone technology. Regulatory changes by the FAA have further enabled these advancements, allowing drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), expanding their use in healthcare logistics.https://lnkd.in/gHK7ygY3

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