Research
Study links for-profit hospitals to worse outcomes and nurse staffing shortfalls
The study found higher mortality and readmission rates at for-profit hospitals, where 71% of nurses said their assigned patient workloads were unsafe.
A study led by researchers at Penn Nursing found that patients at for-profit hospitals had higher mortality and readmission rates than patients at nonprofit hospitals. Becker’s Hospital Review reported that the study found higher 30-day rates. The researchers said differences in nurse staffing accounted for part of the lower quality observed at for-profit hospitals.
The study included more than 1.17 million patients at 143 for-profit and 798 nonprofit adult acute care hospitals in 10 states. Among nurses at for-profit hospitals, 71% said their assigned patient workloads were not safe. The researchers also reported higher nurse burnout and said nurses at for-profit hospitals were less likely to recommend their hospital as a place to receive care or work. The authors said minimum safe staffing requirements and greater hospital ownership transparency could improve outcomes for patients, nurses and hospitals.
