Most countries are still trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the healthcare workforce. Yes, even in 2023! It’s been nearly three years since it caused peril in all parts of the Earth, but the healthcare sector, businesses, schools, etc., are still trying to recover from the pandemic’s adverse effects.
Why is healthcare inflation happening? You’ll know when you continue reading this page. This page lists the key driving factors of this grave concern, e.g., staffing shortages, non labor costs, and overconsumption of healthcare services.
Staffing Concerns and Shortages
Staffing concerns are a problem that’s evident in the healthcare sector, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world could see how undervalued and overworked these healthcare professionals are. This labor shortage is one of the most significant reasons for an inflated increase in healthcare and non labor costs.
What is the result of staffing shortages? In addition to inflated rates, the shortages can also contribute to poor patient outcomes since the workers would be too busy ensuring that everyone gets attended to. There’s no guarantee that they’re giving the best service there is. It could learn to hospital-acquired infections, falls, and increased chances of death.
It’s expected to increase and continue in 2023, especially among nurses. The turnover and burnout will only continue to spread and increase. The strategies to mitigate these shortages are hiring more HCP (or Healthcare Personnel), adjusting staff schedules, and rotating these HCP to provide well-funded patient care activities. Additionally, another strategy used is by canceling non-essential procedures and visits.
Due to the shortages of nurses, these professionals took this as an opportunity to leave the profession and switch to travel nursing. They found that moving from job to job, hospital to hospital, tripled their pay rather than staying in one hospital. However, this is merely a short fix to a long-term problem in the healthcare sector.
To mitigate this problem, hospitals try to renovate and reconstruct wards and purchase new medical equipment, e.g., electric beds, to help cope with the shortage of nurses. It seems that improving facilities and patient care equipment can increase nurses’ jobs and efficiency (in addition to improving their occupational safety and work environment).
Nonlabor Costs
In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about nonlabor costs rose significantly.
As you’ve observed, numerous consumers hoard medical supplies, food supplies, toiletries, and many more. The healthcare industry had trouble gathering personal protective equipment (PPE) during this time, which was essential to protect themselves from those infected with the COVID-19 virus.
Many people were getting sick, and with the labor concerns evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, things became much harder for healthcare professionals and the sector itself. Furthermore, global bottlenecks increased during the pandemic, making treatment difficult due to delays and increased production and delivery costs.
With the continued supply chain issues in the healthcare sector, experts recommend that the supply and procurement of goods be adaptive and establish good relationships with multiple suppliers to reduce the risk of shortage. It’s also expected that healthcare prices would only continue to rise due to supply shortages and disruptions, in addition to labor costs.
Today, consumers use coupons and rewards points to lessen the amount they’re paying at their local pharmacy. Thankfully there are notable and trustworthy companies give out prescription discount coupons like a Valtrex Coupon to help relieve pain and discomfort individuals feel when they have genital herpes or shingles. You can also get coupons for Lipitor, Propecia, Zocor, Amoxicillin, Albuterol Sulfate, Glucopage, Zoloft, Viagra, and many more from BuzzRx.
Furthermore, consumers use insurance plans, opt for the generic brand, get pharmacy membership programs, and purchase in bulk to save money.
Overconsumption of Healthcare Services
What is the overconsumption of healthcare services? It’s the overuse of healthcare with little to no value care. It’s when a drug or treatment is administered without any medical justification. It’s harmful to the sector and to the patient (financially, physically, and psychologically). Furthermore, overuse of services leads to higher pricing. It’s one of the reasons for high medical inflation rates.
Overconsumption of healthcare services also results from patients themselves. It can happen with poor lifestyle habits that cause patients to visit the hospital frequently and drive inflation. Another reason for this overconsumption is the use of new and (more) efficient technologies and machines. Undoubtedly, these costs increase healthcare prices.
Final Thoughts
The healthcare sector is essential for equal access to quality healthcare for individuals. It’s essential to ensure that every individual is healthy and maintains good health, preventing and managing diseases and reducing the chances of disability and death.
The high inflation and its adverse effects on the healthcare sector make it harder for the average consumer to get the care they need. Consumers, healthcare providers, and officials must work hand-in-hand to stop the current situation in the healthcare community.
Also Read: Healthcare Marketing: Key Elements to Enhance Patients’ Experience
