The impact of multiskilling on quality of care.

Hospital finances in the USA are in a crisis. While profits earned from the healthcare industry appear to be at an all-time high, individual hospitals are going bankrupt. Hospitals are not generating sufficient income to pay their expenses given how they have traditionally operated. Hence, we are witnessing the merger and consolidation of competitors, resulting in significantly fewer hospital beds in certain geographical areas. In addition to the strategy of closing hospital beds, severe budget restrictions are impacting upon all remaining services within the hospitals.