Why The U.S. Is Facing A Hospital Bed Shortage

Healthcare in the U.S. is big business and hospitals operate at or near full capacity to maximize revenue. Over the past 50 years, the U.S. has seen a massive drop in the number of beds, from 1.5 million hospital beds in 1975 to 924,107 beds in 2018 – a 37% decrease. But what happens when a pandemic strikes? Will the U.S. run out of hospital beds?

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online

#CNBC

Why The U.S. Faced A Hospital Bed Shortage

[Randomperson-byeg]

This is what happens when you run the country like a business

[kokovox]

Money, money and money. The only goal in American Healthcare.

[doomtomb]

There isn't a bed shortage. There's an affordable medical care shortage.

[kenbutsuri]

As a EU residence, it feels so cringe worthy when I hear the word 'revenue of hospitals'😖

[philipmclaughlin]

Years of for profit led up to this moment

[dilmeharsingh]

That moment, when u can save America only in movies but not in real world 😒😒

[Thecardiffkook]

It’s because the private system doesn’t work

[anthonymatthews]

Is it just me or is the background music outta place for this kind of content 😐

[EngineerHarris]

Any financial advisor will say keep a 6-month rainy day fund in case you lose your job or for an emergency. Why doesn't the same principle apply to major corporations? Including Health Care facilities? Why is it that the companies in the S&P 500 in the last 11 years have spent 91 cent of every dollar in profit (91%) in Stock Buybacks and Dividends instead of strengthening their core fundamentals or simply holding a 6-month rainy day fund like we all are supposed to do? Bad capital management by big corporations will now be rewarded with cash bailouts and the bad cycle will continue. We didn't learn anything from the 2008 Financial crisis and I feel we won't learn anything from this crisis. It is a complete CF.

[TheAussiePencil]

It BEWILDERS me that healthcare in the US is managed like a business, operating around "cost" and "revenue", instead of an essential service.

I hope this pandemic helps shift the US to a fairer, more efficient healthcare system 🇦🇺

[funkyamii]

40000 usd for one covid-19 patient! tells you how broken the system is!

[heartdocandrew]

"Why The U.S. Is Facing A Hospital Bed Shortage" is simply "The U.S. will always face a hospital bed shortage during a pandemic."

[bigsqueak]

I'm only at 6:15 and I'm already sickened to my stomach by what I'm hearing.

[Andrew-ixyw]

Have to be honest...here in Massachusetts, the hospital system is only at 50% capacity. Its actually a little lower than normal because only essential patients are admitting themselves. I understand how NY is in a tough spot, but its not *too* bad anymore. The government built all those extra beds (say for example in Louisiana) and we ended up not even needing them. If we built extra hospital bed by the tens of thousands and aren’t even using them, then I don’t think its too much of an issue. I have to disagree with this video and I think was made as a fearful reaction to what people were saying weeks ago. Let me know if you have a different opinion b/c I would love to hear it🤝

[depresseddude]

Short version: The well being of clients (patients) is an afterthought if it doesn't make them money.

[Xtraxc]

It's a lie I was just at the hospital yesterday its empty.... took my nephew because he hurt hisself... looked like no one was working and was able to park on the bottom deck of the parking deck which was a first... seeing how busy the hospitals are supposed to be at the moment...

[Lunarthief]

If only we had a health care system that put people’s health before profits. One can only dream...

[tsumibatsuegoist]

Hospitals need to stop being a "business" first and get rid of private health insurance.

[dehicechavez]

It's disgusting that a hospital is seen as a business that needs to make profit

[MrNeptunebob]

It is kind of like what they say when running a beauty salon: That chair has to make money!