Workforce challenges remain the top worry of hospital CEOs, according to a survey by the American College of Healthcare Executives.
A shortage of technicians and nurses and burnout among non-physician workers were the most pressing issues related to staffing, according to the group's survey of 241 CEOs at community hospitals last fall.
Related article: Why physician, nursing staffing shortages persist
The survey asked participants to rank hospital industry challenges on an 11-point scale in terms of how pressing they were.
Respondents gave workforce challenges an average rank of 2.3. This marked the second year in a row workforce issues were named the top concern. In 2022, workforce challenges received an average rank of 1.8.
Financial challenges ranked second for a third year in a row, with 96% of respondents citing the costs of increasing staff and buying supplies as the most pressing concern.
Other top concerns included behavioral health and addiction issues, access to care and government mandates.
The CEOs ranked reorganization/mergers and acquisitions/partnerships as the least of their concerns.
