July 16, 2026- According to the latest hospital financial performance data from Kaufman Hall, where hospital care happens is shifting. Kaufman Halls’ National Hospital Flash Report highlights operating margins for the month of May, and the report revealed an ongoing trend of the shift from inpatient to outpatient hospital care.
- Traditional hospital care delivery is fundamentally shifting. As outpatient growth continues year-over-year in May, health systems may consider proactively adapting portfolios and operations to support the future of US healthcare delivery.
- Resource allocation must evolve with care delivery models. Both labor and non-labor expenses remain elevated overall through May as compared with last year. As more care shifts to outpatient settings, health systems should evaluate how they strategically plan, align, and deploy resources to maximize effectiveness.
- Opportunities exist to optimize purchased services. Purchased service expense increased year-over-year in May. Reevaluation of purchased service strategy may unlock new opportunities as the site of care continues to shift.
The latest issue of the National Hospital Flash Report covers these and other hospital financial trends from Kaufman Hall.