HCA Healthcare raises 2023 forecasts on improved staffing

HCA Healthcare on Friday (Apr 21) raised its results forecast for 2023 on improving levels of staffing that has allowed the hospital operator to conduct more surgeries, lifting its shares by over 5 per cent in premarket trade.

A spate of resignations by healthcare staff due to pandemic-related fatigue left hospitals high and dry, forcing them to pay premiums to hire workers. But the costs have begun to normalise as staff shortages are minimised and workflows optimised.

In the first quarter, increased staffing helped HCA’s inpatient surgery cases rise 2.8 per cent and outpatient surgery cases climb 3.5 per cent.

HCA reported an adjusted profit of US$4.93 per share, beating the average of analyst estimate by a US dollar.

The company now sees its 2023 adjusted profit in the range of US$17.25 to US$18.55 per share, compared with its previous forecast of US$16.40 to US$17.60.

It also raised its revenue forecast range to US$62.5 billion to US$64.5 billion. REUTERS