Healthcare Insights

1.) There are now 784,626 healthcare businesses in the United States alone, and this figure is constantly increasing.

The US boasts the biggest healthcare system globally, and its increasing business numbers and revenue. According to PolicyAdvice, Patient care accounts for $1.068 trillion or 64% of the US’s healthcare revenue. Meanwhile, inpatient care, which includes skilled nursing rehabilitation and non-surgical dental interventions, makes up 4.49% and 2.98%, respectively.

2.) Healthcare is the third-largest industry in the U.S.

Since 2020, healthcare spending has accounted for 19.7% of the U.S. economy, which was a dramatic increase from 5% just 60 years ago. According to Zippia, this growth represents a range of factors, from new healthcare treatments and services to better coverage, higher utilization, and rising prices across many of the industry’s sectors.

3.) The use of digitalization in healthcare institutions is promoted by 92% of suppliers of various healthcare solutions.

Digitalization in healthcare helps to reduce costs, increase productivity, and avoid time-restricted diagnoses. The rise of digitalization promotion makes it a great time to invest in digital healthcare trends and equipment. According to PolicyAdvice, Experts predict a massive acceleration of digital technology in healthcare, which includes cloud computing, data security, and other tools.

4.) One in seven people (14%) who used telehealth said they would have sought care in an emergency department or urgent care if telehealth was not available.

This survey conducted showcased that access to telehealth effectively kept people out of the emergency department. More than half of those 14% of people who used telehealth had their primary health issue resolved.

5.) The average healthcare employee earns $60,976 a year in the US.

According to health statistics, healthcare is the largest source of employment in the U.S..) employing an average of 1 in 8 citizens. The health industry is also one of the highest paying industries, reaching well above the national average ($47,060).

6.) Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing industry.

Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing industry in the U.S. and globally. It is predicted that between 2020 and 2030 employment in healthcare occupations is expected to grow by at least 16%.

7.) As of 2020, one-third of U.S. adults had a telehealth visit for themselves or a dependent.

As digitalization is on the rise, so are telehealth and telemedicine. Telehealth visits are rapidly becoming more popular, and the growth in telehealth users is expected to boom within the years to come.

8.) 86% of physicians believe data interoperability will significantly cut the time to diagnosis.

Physicians recognize the importance of having the right information at the right time. According to Google, virtually all physicians (96%) agree that easier access to critical information may help save a patient’s life and 95% believe increased data interoperability will ultimately help improve patient outcomes. For more information on our telehealth products click here.

9.) According to U.S. adults, factors that are important when interacting with healthcare include:

• Ease of access to care (89%)
• Privacy (89%)
• Data security (88%)
• Getting personalized care (88%)
• Having a care provider close to home or work (85%)
• Healthcare costs (85%)
• Coordination among all healthcare providers (84%)
• Being able to monitor their own health (75%)
• Access to a health coach (68%)

10.) The most common purpose for a telehealth visit was a preventive service, prescription refill, or routine visit for a chronic illness (63%).

As virtual visits continue to increase in popularity, they’re becoming more common for simplistic and routine visits.

The healthcare industry will continue to grow and evolve daily, as will the trends, technology, and statistics. It’s important to keep up on relevant news stories, information, and press releases to stay informed and update processes as the industry continues to change and grow.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

Unfortunately, your team may be preparing for an increase in COVID-19 patients. We are here to help. We are working hard to help supply screening area carts ranging from tablet roll stands, kiosks, to full size carts that can be outfitted with all the technology and tools you need. Additionally, because these carts are manufactured in the U.S.A. lead times are very reasonable.

Cart solutions for telehealth, isolation, temperature detection and COVID screening are:

• Versatile
• Customizable
• Ready to use
• Arrive fully assembled and ready to deploy

Give our office a call at 1 (800) 968-3135 or message us here to discuss your COVID-19 strategy.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

Tis' the season to plan costumes, shop for candy, watch horror movies, jaunt through the local haunted house and simply get your scare gene tickled. In keeping with that theme, let's talk shocking 2019 healthcare statistics, frightening stats that make you shutter!

• US life expectancy declines for third straight year. The average life expectancy in the U.S. has been on the decline for three consecutive years. A baby born in 2017 is expected to live to be 78.6 years old, which is down from 78.7 the year before, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
• NOT buying a quality workstation on wheels can cost you. See how one of our hospitals saved over $3.5 million! Look at the long term costs of your investment.
• One million more nurses are needed in the workforce in order to avoid further nurse shortages in the United States, according to The US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.
• According to the American Nurses Association, 1 out of 4 nurses are assaulted on the job. Hospitals that invest in a quality staff duress system are making an important first step.

• Halloween retail spending was estimated at $9 billion in 2018. Spending a record $86.79 per person, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey.
• On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection. Imagine how automating hand hygiene compliance could help your facility.
• Health spending is projected to grow 0.8 percentage point faster than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year over the 2018-27 period; as a result, the health share of GDP is expected to rise from 17.9 percent in 2017 to 19.4 percent by 2027.
• According to the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in nine states, 30% in 31 states and 25% in 48 states. Mississippi and West Virginia have the highest adult obesity rate at 39.5% and Colorado has the lowest at 23%.
• The United States will see a shortage of up to nearly 122,000 physicians by 2032 as demand for physicians continues to grow faster than supply, according to new data published today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).
• The top five Halloween costumes for adults are witch, vampire, zombie, pirate, and Avengers character. The top five for children were princess, superhero, Batman, Star Wars character, and witch according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey.
• A hospital reported an average of one million alarms going off in a single week.
• Nurses have superpowers. Ability to lift patients twice their size. Bladders of steel to survive beyond-busy shifts. Laser-beam focus to juggle multiple patients. Lightning-quick response to emergencies and unexpected contingencies. Maybe not a study to verify, but they do, I can’t imagine anyone would disagree.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

We all experience buyer’s remorse at one time or another. It rears its ugly head when the product or service did not live up to its expectations. Now you are stuck and often have no recourse to rectify the situation. Let’s move that same scenario into the workplace.

What happens when you are charged with making a capital investment buying decision? Your facility and possibly even your career cannot afford for you to have buyer’s remorse. Imagine making a multi-million dollar investment only to not have clinicians properly use the system. GULP! Tt happens especially when a system champion moves onto another project or another department.

After more than 30 years in the business, we have heard many buyer remorse stories

Computer Carts: There are occasions when we lose a sale due to price and when that happens, we often wonder if ROI is truly getting measured or was it simply based on price. In a recent conversation with a new customer we learned we lost the bid because of price and now a year later they were calling to have us re-quote some new carts. They quickly realized the carts they purchased were falling apart not even a year later. Clinicians were complaining about broken drawers, difficulty pushing around, and wheels getting wobbly. Remember how it feels to get that shopping cart with an off wheel? Imagine pushing a cart with wheels that do not operate the way they should. Maddening!!!

Infrastructure: Another time, we found a hospital that made a significant investment in an infrastructure that was not operational. WHAT? The company that sold the system did not ask all the questions up front and then did not follow thru on servicing the system after the sale to ensure that it was operating appropriately. Sales at Convergint, especially ugly system sales are not one and done! We offer ongoing support years after the initial installation to insure it is operating and delivering to your expectations. Is that why we have the first patient security system we installed 20 years ago still operating successfully?

Wooden Bassinet: In a recent visit to an OB unit, we saw some well-worn bassinets and assumed they were very old. Upon further questioning, we found they were not that old, but were becoming gummy because the finish could not withstand the chemicals used to sanitize them. Again, asking questions is what we do, and what we do well. Since they did not realize the wood finish would not hold up, they are now stuck with these bassinets and should Joint Commission inspect, they could face an even bigger issue with non-compliant bassinets.

Making a decision on purchasing the right capital equipment is no easy task! Typically, one does their homework researching the needs of the clinicians, brands, options and gathers an understanding of the workflow involved. Then they talk to various vendors to find a company that will deliver the product that fits these needs. More complex systems and integrations require even more questions and many of those should come from the vendor, a consultative-educational approach is critical, especially with all the new technologies that are disrupting the marketplace.

When your facility is standardized on equipment, like many are, there may not be many options to choose from. Fortunately, our 30-year reputation in the marketplace has afforded us an opportunity to get signed Master Sales and Service Agreements (MSSA) into place for many IDN’s. Meaning that doing business with us is still an option.

Either way, purchasing reliable equipment should not create buyers remorse especially when you work with a trusted vendor who has a solid reputation within the healthcare industry. Our next blog is our buying guide on what questions to ask so that you can avoid buyer’s remorse when making your next capital investment.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

My friend went to the hospital for a normal routine procedure and came home groggy and began to feel unusually sick. Numerous visits to the hospital and doctor since, they have not revealed the core problem. However, they predict a “bug” of some sort was picked up in the hospital.

Hospitals harbor many infections and the need to control the spread of those infections is vitally important.

To assist hospitals in doing all they can to prevent infection, some hospitals have made the decision to hire Specialists or Infection Preventionists. At Convergint, we hear from those Specialists. They are working to replace medical carts or wood furniture that has outlived the life of the protective finish or has become absorbent to fluids and infections.

Have you considered replacing your old wood carts? Accreditation Agencies are keeping watch for these failing surfaces. How about those metal carts with chipping paint?

Convergint provides ruggedly durable medical cart solutions that are built of non-porous material, and furniture made with High Pressure Laminate (HPL) or the new highly sought-after antimicrobial solid surface material, which we think will be the multi-generational cart of the future.

Interested in hearing how Convergint can help keep the “bugs” out of your Hospital? Contact us today with your cart needs!

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service. Reach out today to discuss replacing your carts & furniture that may be doing more harm than good.