Hospital Management

Daily Newsletter

07 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation to Sturgis Hospital.

An REH will enable the 98-year-old hospital to further expand its emergency department capabilities by making sure that advanced medical technologies are included.

It will also ensure that resources are available for managing emergency cases.

In addition, the designation will ensure that the hospital is well-equipped to provide rapid response to patients in emergencies.

It will also help it better coordinate with bigger medical facilities to transfer patients in case specialised treatment is needed.

From a business perspective, the REH designation allows the hospital to receive more federal capital injection.

These funds can be used to improve the hospital infrastructure or services.

Sturgis Hospital interim CEO Jeremy Gump said: “We are honoured to be recognised as the first Rural Emergency Hospital in Michigan and one of the select few in the United States.

“This designation reaffirms our commitment to serve our rural community with the utmost dedication and compassion.”

The hospital offers various medical services including emergency care, outpatient services, and surgical procedures.

Healthcare companies are hesitant to invest in the metaverse

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the healthcare industry to rapid digitalization. Increased use of telehealth, telepresence systems, remote diagnostics, predictive AI, and wearable technology is changing how healthcare is delivered and improving patient outcomes. Emerging technologies such as AR and VR are becoming increasingly routine for professional training, surgical assistance, and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. In the pharma and medical devices industries, AR, VR, and AI are rapidly accelerating drug discovery and manufacturing and generating supply chain efficiencies. New digital opportunities will look to build upon disruptive technologies. However, affordability is a limiting factor to widespread adoption. Per GlobalData estimates, the metaverse market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33% between 2023 and 2030. Although metaverse technologies could reinvent healthcare approaches and bring new experiences to healthcare providers and patients, adoption is still at an early stage. There are currently few use cases in the healthcare industry. The metaverse needs to overcome major challenges for healthcare, including regulation and data privacy concerns. Evidence of proven use cases and participation by a critical mass of users are imperative to drive a shift in metaverse investment.