I look forward to this discussion with colleagues whose organizations have also had to adapt in recent years and to talk about what’s worked for us at DHMC—as well as what hasn’t—and how we move forward.
Jeffrey O’Brien, MHCDS, MHAHospitals and health systems, including Dartmouth Health, are not immune to the current crises impacting employers nationwide, namely labor shortages and skyrocketing costs of almost everything. According to recent data from consulting firm Kaufman Hall, hospitals and health systems are spending 29% more on drugs, 38% more on supplies and 27% more on labor compared to two years ago. To stay nimble and resilient, supply chain and logistics experts are seeking new sources and novel partnerships to equip hospitals with vital drugs, medical devices and other materials. To help, many consumer and provider advocates are also pushing for greater transparency around costs and pricing.
In an upcoming webinar hosted by U.S. News & World Report, a panel of experts will share lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and offer a blueprint for innovation in the face of future operational challenges for rural, suburban and urban centers. Jeffrey O’Brien, MHCDS, MHA, chief operating officer at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), will be a panelist in “How Hospitals Are Taking On Shortages and Operational Challenges,” sharing from DHMC’s experience of navigating shortages over the last two and a half years.
“Since 2020, we’ve been thrown for a loop in healthcare in virtually every aspect, but the key to continuing to provide the best quality care for our patients is the ability to adapt,” O’Brien said. “The constant twists and turns of the pandemic, labor shortage and now the current economic downtown have kept us on our toes but also forced us to think smarter and more creatively about how we deliver care and attract and retain skilled staff. I look forward to this discussion with colleagues whose organizations have also had to adapt in recent years and to talk about what’s worked for us at DHMC—as well as what hasn’t—and how we move forward.”
“How Hospitals Are Taking On Shortages and Operational Challenges” will be held on Wednesday, July 27, at 1 pm EST. Registration is required and free of charge. To register, visit https://usnews.zoom.us/webinar/register/1016564390706/WN_1jlhO3NzQn6sGLa0Pg1fiQ.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes its Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, including the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the state’s only children’s hospital and clinic locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene and New London, NH, and Windsor, VT, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.