The AHA survey, “The Capital Crisis: Survey of Impact on Hospitals,” was faxed in Dec. 2008 to all U.S. non-federal hospitals and the results tallied through Jan. 6.
Forty-five percent of the hospitals responding postponed projects slated to begin within six months, while 13 percent stopped capital projects already in progress.
Nearly four-fifths, or 82 percent, said they postponed construction projects, 65 percent put clinical technology projects on hold and 62 percent delayed information technology projects.
Of the hospitals that postponed projects, 83 percent attributed their decisions to the current economic uncertainty; 58 percent to a decline in operating performance; 59 percent to declines in capital reserves; and 53 percent to the credit crunch. More than one-quarter blamed high interest rates. Half of the hospitals postponing plans said the projects exceeded $10 million.
View the AHA report on hospital access to capital (pdf).
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