With 16 cancer drugs currently on the FDA's drug shortage list, Jason Westin, MD, the director of Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center's Lymphoma Clinical Research Program, section chief for Aggressive Lymphoma, told the Senate Finance Committee Dec. 5 that "providers shouldn't have to make impossible choices about patient care."

Two years ago, AdventHealth's nurse turnover rate was 31%. In November, that figure dipped to 18.9% — progress leaders at the Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based system link to a three-pronged nurse staffing strategy: Use less, lose less, hire more. 

After a five-day strike in November, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Wash.) and United Food and Commercial Workers 3000 reached a tentative labor contract Dec. 1.

The average weekly travel nurse pay in November in the U.S. was $2,417.04, a decrease of 0.22% from the previous month and a 10.94% decrease from the same month in 2022, according to a report from Vivian Health, a national healthcare hiring marketplace.    

On Dec. 5, Tower Health said it laid off 30 employees in an effort to streamline operations, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. 

More than half of all Black, Hispanic and American Indian and Alaska Native patients say they have to mentally prepare themselves for receiving insults at healthcare visits, according to results from a KFFKFF study released Dec. 5.

Gen Z's lack of interest in middle management positions might eventually dissolve the tier entirely, Business Insider reported Dec. 5. 

Dramatic margin fluctuations characterized 2022, which was one of the worst financial years for hospitals in decades. Despite a modest positive turning point in 2023 for some hospitals and health systems, 2024 will be categorized as another "make or break" year for a significant portion of the sector, Fitch Ratings said in its annual outlook report.

Beginning Jan. 1, hospitals and health systems can pursuea new certification from The Joint Commission on the Responsible Use of Health Data.

In January 2022, entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban launched an online pharmacy that priced 100 medications by their manufacturing fee, a 15% markup, and a shipping and handling fee. Less than two years later, Express Scripts and CVS are following suit. 

The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of television producer Chuck Lorre, donated $10 million to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The following hospital and health system CEO moves have recently been reported by Becker's:

Elkins, W.Va.-based Davis Health, a three-hospital system, has officially joined Vandalia Health, local news outlet WBOY reported Dec. 4.

Tommy Ibrahim, MD, who is stepping down as president and CEO of Cooperstown, N.Y.-based Bassett Healthcare Network by the year's end, spoke on Sanford Health's podcast about bolstering the future rural healthcare workforce. 

After kicking off construction on its first freestanding emergency department last month, Bradenton-based HCA Florida Blake Hospital has broken ground on a second one in Bradenton.

Microsoft is continuing its push into the healthcare industry, with one of its most notable partnerships of 2023 being with EHR provider Epic Systems. 

As hospital and health systems continue to grapple with tighter margins, IT and tech workers have been paying the price. 

O'Neil Britton, MD, is taking on an expanded role as chief integration officer and executive vice president of Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham. 

Becker's Hospital Review reported on CEO transitions at hospitals and health systems across the U.S. in 2023. 

The CEO of 335-bed Los Angeles-based Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is joining MedBright AI, a healthcare technology capital allocator, according to a Dec. 5 MedBright news release.