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In a recent public hearing held at the state Capitol, Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) emphasized the critical crisis facing Pennsylvania's hospitals, focusing on looming closures, dire staffing shortages, and dwindling access to specialty care. As the chair of the Senate Institutional Sustainability and Innovation Committee, Farry brought together health care leaders and policy experts to shed light on these pressing issues affecting communities across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas.
“Pennsylvanians should have access to reliable, quality care no matter where they live,” Farry stated, urging for immediate and strategic interventions to prevent communities from losing essential health services.
The hearing featured notable voices from the health care sector, including Nicole Stallings, president and CEO of the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, and other leaders from major health networks. They highlighted the increasing financial strains due to inflation, workforce demands, and reimbursement constraints. Alarmingly, more than half of the commonwealth's acute care hospitals are currently operating at a loss, a scenario that could lead to more closures if not addressed.
Staffing shortages, particularly among nurses and allied health professionals, were also a major discussion point. Dr. Mark Rubino from Allegheny Health Network reported high vacancy rates impacting the ability to deliver patient care. “We’re doing our best, but at Allegheny Health Network, we have some hospital units that are empty – not because we lack patient demand, but because we can’t staff them,” Rubino said.
The cascading effects of hospital closures contribute to longer emergency response times and reduced access to care, posing a public safety and economic threat. As Farry remarked, “Hospital sustainability is not just a health care issue – it’s a public safety and economic issue.”
The findings from this hearing will be pivotal in forming bipartisan solutions to bolster Pennsylvania’s health care infrastructure and safeguard patient access to critical services.
For more details, you can view the entire hearing at [Senate GOP News](Source).
Addressing Pennsylvania's Hospital Crisis: Urgent Actions Needed
In a recent public hearing held at the state Capitol, Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) emphasized the critical crisis facing Pennsylvania's hospitals, focusing on looming closures, dire staffing shortages, and dwindling access to specialty care. As the chair of the Senate Institutional Sustainability and Innovation Committee, Farry brought together health care leaders and policy experts to shed light on these pressing issues affecting communities across the state, especially in rural and underserved areas.
“Pennsylvanians should have access to reliable, quality care no matter where they live,” Farry stated, urging for immediate and strategic interventions to prevent communities from losing essential health services.
The hearing featured notable voices from the health care sector, including Nicole Stallings, president and CEO of the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, and other leaders from major health networks. They highlighted the increasing financial strains due to inflation, workforce demands, and reimbursement constraints. Alarmingly, more than half of the commonwealth's acute care hospitals are currently operating at a loss, a scenario that could lead to more closures if not addressed.
Staffing shortages, particularly among nurses and allied health professionals, were also a major discussion point. Dr. Mark Rubino from Allegheny Health Network reported high vacancy rates impacting the ability to deliver patient care. “We’re doing our best, but at Allegheny Health Network, we have some hospital units that are empty – not because we lack patient demand, but because we can’t staff them,” Rubino said.
The cascading effects of hospital closures contribute to longer emergency response times and reduced access to care, posing a public safety and economic threat. As Farry remarked, “Hospital sustainability is not just a health care issue – it’s a public safety and economic issue.”
The findings from this hearing will be pivotal in forming bipartisan solutions to bolster Pennsylvania’s health care infrastructure and safeguard patient access to critical services.
For more details, you can view the entire hearing at [Senate GOP News](Source).