Hospitals may buckle under 'tsunami' of patients

Hospitals may buckle under 'tsunami' of patients 
Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 2/25/25 
Health systems are treating sicker patients, straining already full emergency departments and inpatient units. Many health systems are struggling to keep up with the increasingly complex healthcare needs of an aging population, leading to overcrowded emergency rooms and delays in care. Providers are ramping up strategies to treat patients more efficiently and keep those who aren't as sick out of emergency departments. These strategies are critical as capacity wanes and providers face a potential decline in federal healthcare funding, executives said. Health systems are revamping patient admission and discharge processes; bolstering virtual, home and urgent care offerings; expanding clinician recruitment efforts and adding observation beds. But providers are concerned they won't be able to act quickly enough to meet the growing demand for care.