The annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference kicks off virtually this week. In years past, the event has heralded announcements of large partnerships, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. This year, the health care sector could not even wait until the second full week of January to kick off an acquisition announcement spree. The quick start is an early ... READ MORE >
health care
CHART OF THE DAY: As vaccination begins, health care remains underemployed
The pandemic brought about a rare reduction in health care jobs at a time when they are most needed, for both patient care and for the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans against COVID-19. Hospitals reduced headcount by 126,200 jobs last April, which was the largest reduction since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the figure in 1989. The ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Technology investments in health care poised to surge
After years of pouring money into disruptive technologies in the financial services industry, venture capital firms are turning their attention to the health care ecosystem as the pandemic upends traditional ways of delivering health care. On Sept. 29, SCP Co. registered as a special purpose acquisition company aiming to raise $230 million focused on finding ... READ MORE >
While other health care subsectors see job gains, nursing and residential care continues to lag
While the health care ecosystem is broadly returning to work, nursing care facilities remain an exception. In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic and state-wide prohibitions on non-emergent, or elective, procedures the health care ecosystem shed 2.27 million jobs in August, the first broad job loss in health care in decades. Since then, we have seen ... READ MORE >
The pandemic, health care access and the economy
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has highlighted the massive health care access inequalities that continue to plague the richest country in the world. The coronavirus is attacking both rich and poor, but it is most destructive among the poor who lack access to a healthy living environment. It’s difficult to think that the current health care status quo ... READ MORE >
How hospitals can prepare for new price transparency rules
A recent court ruling has given the Trump administration a major victory in its push for transparency in health care pricing, and has left many health care providers scrambling to meet new requirements. While the burdens of meeting the requirements are high, in the end they represent an opportunity for health care providers to separate themselves from the ... READ MORE >
Trump administration identifies 5 companies for government support in vaccine effort
Drug developers, academic institutions and government agencies across the globe are investigating more than 100 potential vaccines for the coronavirus. The Trump administration on Wednesday identified a handful of organizations that it believes are the most likely to produce a viable vaccine candidate, The New York Times reported. This is the latest step in ... READ MORE >
Amid disruption in health care, private equity is poised to put its cash to work
As the human and economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic has mounted, companies across industries have fallen into distress, including in the health care sector. As they look for a lifeline, private equity firms are in position to put some of their significant cash on hand to work. Many of these deals will be found in private capital markets. But the ... READ MORE >
Coronavirus spurs service disruption for health care providers, extending human toll
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has dominated the news since the outbreak began in China early this year. As the situation evolves, health care companies and organizations should monitor four important risk areas: supply chain, patient demand, workforce supply and their t function. Supply chain According to Premier Inc., a large group purchasing ... READ MORE >
Shadow IT risk is growing as health care industry consolidates
As U.S. health care systems continue to consolidate, they must be aware of the information technology risks lurking in the shadows. The pace of consolidation remained strong last year, with approximately 1,600 deals. And while megamergers are expected to slow in 2020, larger organizations continue to purchase smaller systems through tucked-in ... READ MORE >