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Four key risks threaten healthcare providers

Four key risks threaten healthcare providers
Germs from disease and viruses

The end of the pandemic may be in sight, but in its wake will be some daunting challenges for healthcare providers. Explore more to examine the four risks:

1. Clinician burnout

Even before the pandemic, up to one-half of clinicians were found to experience burnout.¹ What’s the impact on providers?

  • Turnover and lost hours total $4.6 billion per year.²
  • Professional liability risks and costs rise when workers aren’t at their best.
  • Patient satisfaction suffers.

What’s our response?

Emphasize work/life balance and strengthen mental and emotional well-being programs.

2. Talent gap

As the need for care grows larger, the medical workforce grows older. What are the dangers over the next decade?

  • One-third of clinicians are 55 or older.4
  • Six of today’s 10 fastest-growing occupations are related to healthcare.5
  • The talent pipeline is limited as a result of strained work conditions.
  • Lower-skilled workers may need to fill the talent gap.
employee engagement

What’s our response?

Focus on employee engagement and long-term recruitment.

Telemedicine on desktop computer

3. Telehealth fever

With the number of virtual visits up to 175 times higher now than before the pandemic6, online care has revolutionized the industry. If this shift is permanent, what are the drawbacks?

  • Data breaches were approximately three times higher in 2020 than in 2019.7
  • A reliance on imperfect remote technology can cause misdiagnoses.
  • Revenue decreased more than $20 billion in the pandemic’s first three months.8
  • A permanent shift to virtual care could threaten long-term financial viability.
Telemedicine icon

What’s our response?

Consider the added risks of sustained online and remote medical care and how they vary by jurisdiction.

hospital

4. Financial instability

America’s hospitals and health systems lost at least $323 billion in 2020.9 How will today’s financial outlook reshape the industry?

  • Smaller providers may cut back unprofitable services, slash expenses, limit investments, or close altogether.10
  • Larger healthcare systems will likely focus on innovation, diversification, and collaboration.11
  • Health systems may strengthen infrastructure through new alliances.12
  • Industry analysts expect a dramatic rise in M&A activity in 2021.10
checklist clipboard

Key considerations:

Assess program structures to ensure they meet financial needs.

As healthcare providers adapt to a changing world, our expertise and integrated solutions can help you prepare for the risks and challenges that lie ahead.

Contact your Liberty Mutual representative to learn how we can help.

  1. https://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=
    25521&_ga=2.158196538.1042620189.1571854216-1009726916.1571854216
  2. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-1422
  3. https://journals.lww.com/hcmrjournal/Abstract/
    2008/01000/Linking_physician_burnout_and_patient_outcomes_.5.aspx
  4. https://www.peoplescout.com/insights/healthcare-talent-generational-divide/
  5. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm
  6. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-
    and-services/our-insights/telehealth-a-quarter-trillion-dollar-post-covid-19-reality#
  7. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/3-big-predictions-for-digital-health-in-2021/593691/
  8. https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/
    9000/The_Cost_of_Quarantine__Projecting_the_Financial.93739.aspx
  9. https://www.aha.org/issue-brief/2020-06-30-new-aha-report-
    finds-losses-deepen-hospitals-and-health-systems-due-covid-19
  10. https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/ma-activity-expected-
    surge-independent-health-systems-look-partners
  11. https://www.bdo.com/BDO/media/CFO-Outlook-Survey/IND_2021_HC_CFO-Survey_WEB.pdf
  12. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/healthcare-cfos-see-fresh-wave-of-ma-in-2021-bdo-survey-shows/593219/

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