title: The money issue.
abstract: Volume is rising at a healthy pact. Technology is improving patient care. Many organizations have, out of necessity, strengthened business fundamentals, controlled costs and refined their focus. Yet not-for-profit hospitals are squeezed by a cash crunch that has balance sheets under pressure and credit downgrades outpacing upgrades--the result of shrinking investment income, rising pension obligations, low government reimbursement and other threats to operational stability. N&HN looks at the challenges, including recent fallout from the most pressing issues, how some systems have responded, and the pros and cons of borrowing now.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haugh
mesh_terms: D002202:Capital Financing; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000639:trends*; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005653:Fund Raising; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D007182:Income / Q000639:trends; D007449:Investments / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D010415:Pensions; D014481:United States