Temple University Health System, which accumulated nearly $133 million in operating losses between 2008 and 2010, has made a steady financial comeback under the leadership of thoracic surgeon Larry Kaiser, MD.
Dr. Kaiser attributes the improvement in part to his decision to recruit 58 specialty surgeons to the hospital in the last five years. This has increased the number of acute care patients who present at the hospital in need of high-end procedures like transplants, cardiac work and neurosurgery.
"We've seen since 2011 our acuity volume increase by more than 20 percent," while reducing the average length of stay, Dr. Kaiser told The Inquirer. This year, the lung transplant program is on target to complete more than 100 transplants.
Moody's Investors Services recently upgraded the health system's rating from Ba2 to Ba1, citing the "durability of TUHS' financial turnaround," according to the article.