What Are Health System CEOs’ Growth Priorities in 2022?
Amid unprecedented challenges, health system CEOs are focused on moving to a patient-centric model of care through the use of digital tools and a diversified workforce.
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By Anuja Vaidya
- As health systems grapple with an evolving pandemic, consumer empowerment through digital tools and diversifying the workforce to care for diverse communities are at the forefront of healthcare executives' minds.
That's according to Jiban Khuntia, PhD, director of the University of Colorado, Denver's Health Administration Research Consortium. The consortium recently published its 2022 Health Systems' Climate Study, which polled 133 health system CEOs earlier this year. Khuntia sat down with Healthcare Strategies to discuss how health system leaders plan to grow their business as they move to a more patient-focused care model.
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A top growth priority for health system leaders is deploying digital tools, like telehealth and remote patient monitoring, followed closely by investments in mental and behavioral health. But there are some barriers standing in the way.
"Service parity and payment parity of both these — telehealth and mental [health] services —across all insurers is needed, and that will help to increase the access for patients, [and] incentivize providers to offer those services," Khuntia said.
As the landscape evolves to allow for more widespread adoption of digital tools, health system leaders must also be mindful of the gaps in technology access and use. Some groups may not even be aware of the virtual options available.
"They may be using [a] cell phone, but calling a nurse at the time of need, probably, is not a widely accepted, widely approved, or acknowledged practice," Khuntia said.
Providing diversity training for managers and attracting diverse talent are also key growth priorities for health system CEOs, according to the survey.
To effectively care for racially and economically varied populations, the healthcare workforce must understand their unique care needs. One way to improve the inclusive care skills of the current workforce is for health systems to collaborate with universities, Khuntia said. But future strategies will require changes to be made to the hiring process to ensure diversity.
As health system leaders work to grow their businesses in 2022, they will face many challenges. But there is reason to be optimistic, Khuntia believes, as health systems are doing well in several areas, and digital transformation is an ongoing journey.
"Optimism should override pessimism," Khuntia said. "The challenges do come [in an] unprecedented way. Disruptions are here to stay and through that, evolving is not an easy thing."
"The journey [toward] digital investment, value-based care, patient-centered approach[es] — there's not a clear roadmap, and that's the fact," he added. "So, it'll continue."
