U.S. hospital occupancy is expected to rise from 75% to 85% by 2032, reaching levels that could cause longer wait times, more medical errors, and preventable deaths. UCLA researchers found this increase is driven by a 16% decline in staffed hospital beds, likely due to workforce shortages and hospital closures linked to private equity.
To prevent a worsening crisis, the study recommends increasing hospital reimbursement, regulating private equity in healthcare, addressing staffing shortages, and expanding the healthcare workforce pipeline.
Read the full article in Becker’s Hospital Review.