Findings from a survey conducted by Chicago-based Grant Thornton LLP indicate that 38 percent of healthcare CFOs and senior comptrollers say their organization will increase hiring in the next six months.

That figure, says the company, is 14 points higher than the national number. In addition, more than half (52 percent) plan to reduce bonuses and half (51 percent) believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months. In terms of pricing pressure, healthcare CFOs are overwhelmingly concerned about the cost of employee benefits (83 percent), such as health care and pension costs. Not surprisingly, 41 percent report that their company is reducing health care benefits and 21 percent are reducing 401K matches.

Grant Thornton LLP conducted the biannual national survey from Sept. 21 through Oct. 2, 2009, with 846 CFOs and senior comptrollers from public and private companies, of which 72 were from healthcare.