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Government Jobs and the Economy: What's the Real Story?

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  Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts Ever wonder if more government jobs actually mean a stronger economy? It’s a fair question, especially when you hear folks cheer about rising government employment as if it’s a clear win for the country. But the truth isn’t so straightforward. Let me explain this fallacy in straightforward terms and see what is really going on. The economy’s health is often measured by something called Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. Think of GDP as a giant tally of everything we produce, goods like cars and services like haircuts, all added up by their market value. When someone gets a government job, their salary gets counted in that tally, which makes it look like the economy’s growing. But here’s the catch: most government work isn’t sold on the open market. Unlike a company making widgets, we don’t know its true value, so we just guess it’s worth whatever we pay the workers. That’s a bit like saying your savings are up because you spent more—it doesn’t...
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U.S. Hospitals Are at a Breaking Point

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  Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts U.S. Hospitals Are at a Breaking Point In 2020, I published a book titled Fiscal Fitness: Strengthening Hospital Financial Performance. In the book, I discuss the urgency of hospital leaders to pinpoint every source of revenue and where every dollar is being spent. It seems that we are quickly heading in this direction.  The U.S. hospital industry is caught in a financial storm that’s impossible to ignore. Flip through recent earnings reports—like those from Q3—and the story becomes clear: Many hospitals barely stay afloat, while others are drowning in losses. Some are merging or selling out to keep the lights on. It’s a chaotic, high-stakes moment reshaping how healthcare operates, who receives care, and what it might cost us. So, what’s driving this mess, and where are we headed? Let's unpack some financial reports I reviewed in the past week. Hospitals aren’t grappling with a single issue; they’re being overwhelmed from every direc...
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New Book Release: Monday, April 7, 2025

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  Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts   Introduction   As a healthcare leader and advocate, I’ve spent my career helping healthcare systems ask better questions, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen bridges between care and community. This guide results from that journey, and I’m honored to share it with you. If you’ve ever watched a patient come back through your emergency room doors for the third time in a month, you’ve probably asked yourself: What are we missing? You may have discharged them with clear instructions, prescribed the right medications, and followed the proper protocol. And yet, they returned, not because of a failure in clinical care, but because their lives outside the hospital never improved. No ride to the pharmacy. No safe place to sleep. No one to call when their symptoms worsened. This is where healthcare breaks down—and where population health begins. At its core, population health isn’t about treating more patients more efficiently. It’s ...
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Population Health Works

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  Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts Population Health Works Imagine juggling doctor's appointments, managing health conditions, and worrying about how you'll afford groceries or if your housing situation is stable. For many in the Bronx, this isn't imaginary – it's a daily reality. But thanks to an inspiring program at Montefiore, a helping hand is reaching out right where it's needed most. Meet the Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI), born in 2021 out of a simple, powerful idea: What if trusted neighbors could help bridge the gap between medical care and the everyday challenges that impact health? Since then, this initiative has touched the lives of over 10,000 Bronx families, bringing healthcare support, hope, and practical help. At the heart of CHWI are the Community Health Workers (CHWs) themselves. These aren't just employees; they are often residents of the very communities they serve. They  get  the local challenges because they've like...
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Escalating Financial Barriers to Healthcare Access

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  Dr. Emrick's Books, Blogs, and Podcasts Recent data indicate a significant increase in the proportion of U.S. adults facing severe financial barriers to accessing necessary healthcare and medicine, categorized as "Cost Desperate." Findings from the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Indices Study reveal that 11% of U.S. adults, representing approximately 29 million individuals, met this classification in late 2024, the highest level recorded since the index's inception in 2021. This trend is marked by rapidly widening disparities along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. Notably, the prevalence of cost desperation has increased substantially among Hispanic and Black populations and lower-income households while remaining stable among White adults and higher-income groups, exacerbating existing inequities in healthcare access and affordability. Healthcare affordability and access remain critical public health issues in the United States. The report analyzes trends in...
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