[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":125930,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"At the start of every year, the Health Care Advisory Board research team conducts the Advisory Board Research Annual Health Care CEO Survey to identify the top strategic priorities for hospital and health system leaders.

We were especially curious how executives plan to focus their agenda in 2019 after watching political uncertainties wax and wane and the private sector take over as the top catalyst for industry transformation in 2018.

In this year\u2019s survey, we asked respondents to rate 29 issues on a scale of \u201cA\u201d to \u201cF\u201d, with \u201cA\u201d indicating the greatest interest in learning more from Advisory Board researchers about the topic. The top-ranked areas for the 90 hospital and health system C-suite executives who responded to our 2019 survey were:

Improving ambulatory access, with 57 percent ranking it as an \u201cA\u201d<\/li>
Minimizing unwarranted clinical variation, 53.2 percent ranked A<\/li>
Strengthening primary care alignment, 52.6 percent ranked A<\/li>
Redesigning health system services for population health, 51.9 percent ranked A<\/li>
Innovative approaches to expense reduction, 51.3 percent ranked A<\/li><\/ul>
After reviewing the detailed results from this year\u2019s survey, we observed four key takeaways that animate hospitals\u2019 and health system\u2019s C-suite agenda right now.

Margin pressures are not relenting, but executives\u2019 top priority has shifted from cost control to revenue growth. <\/b>
For the past two years, C-suite executives have consistently rated margin management as their top strategic priority. This focus reflects the dire financial reality facing many hospitals and health systems today. In 2017, median operating margins among not-for-profit hospitals hit an all-time low of 1.6 percent, after operating expense growth outpaced operating revenue growth for two consecutive years.

Moody\u2019s US not-for-profit hospital preliminary medians for fiscal year 2018 suggest that health systems are starting to show signs of financial stability, with operating margins holding steady as the growth of revenues and expenses converged last year. However, margins remain razor thin because of sustained downward pressure on revenue growth and declining patient volumes, especially as more patients receive care in outpatient settings. While cost containment remains a major strategic priority, executives have shifted more of their focus to strategies designed to bolster revenue growth moving forward.

Executives are looking beyond the hospital to capture new revenue growth. <\/b>
In contrast to previous periods of margin pressure, structural shifts within the industry\u2014rather than temporary declines in the overall economy\u2014are driving today\u2019s revenue challenges. As a result, hospitals and health systems are seeking new strategies for capturing revenue growth. \u201cIncreasing ambulatory access\u201d and \u201cstrengthening primary care alignment\u201d were among the highest-scoring topics on this year\u2019s survey; both topics also experienced a notable increase in interest relative to 2018.

Interest in growing the outpatient procedural book of business remained steady. Overall, executives remain hyper-focused on ambulatory growth, with a particular interest in moving upstream and capturing revenue from access and primary-care focused strategies.

Different types of organizations are embracing different strategies for growing revenue. While all respondents expressed strong interest in improving ambulatory access, leaders from larger health system also indicate intentions to explore diversified revenue streams.

Physicians will be critical to margin management efforts across the board. <\/b>
In 2018, when executives were laser-focused on cost control, executives\u2019 interest in physician-related topics dropped. This year, however, leaders are highlighting physicians\u2019 integral role in both revenue growth and cost control, and physician-related issues returned as a leading priority.

Physician-related topics scored even higher among CEOs than other C-suite respondents, indicating a strong likelihood that hospitals and health systems will place more time and effort on physician partnership to advance margin goals. However, strengthening ties with physicians could be increasingly difficult for hospital and health systems. Private equity firms, health plans, retailers and technology companies are all vying with hospitals and health systems for physician talent and are fueling unprecedented competition in the market for physician partners.

Innovation is becoming a key response to industry disruption. <\/b>
In addition to the C-suite, our survey also polls broader hospital and health system administrators. This year, the highest ranked topic across all respondent groups was \u201chardwiring innovation into planning, improvement and staff culture,\u201d with 51 percent of the 330 respondents ranking it with an \u201cA.\u201d This same topic was ranked No. 8 on the list in 2018.

The rising interest in innovation demonstrates hospital and health system\u2019s reaction to intensifying financial pressures and competition from new entrants to the health care market\u2014especially Silicon Valley, big tech companies and private equity firms\u2014and the need to evolve quickly in an industry facing disruption.","saveContent":"At the start of every year, the Health Care Advisory Board research team conducts the Advisory Board Research Annual Health Care CEO Survey to identify the top strategic priorities for hospital and health system leaders.

We were especially curious how executives plan to focus their agenda in 2019 after watching political uncertainties wax and wane and the private sector take over as the top catalyst for industry transformation in 2018.

In this year\u2019s survey, we asked respondents to rate 29 issues on a scale of \u201cA\u201d to \u201cF\u201d, with \u201cA\u201d indicating the greatest interest in learning more from Advisory Board researchers about the topic. The top-ranked areas for the 90 hospital and health system C-suite executives who responded to our 2019 survey were:
Improving ambulatory access, with 57 percent ranking it as an \u201cA\u201d<\/li>
Minimizing unwarranted clinical variation, 53.2 percent ranked A<\/li>
Strengthening primary care alignment, 52.6 percent ranked A<\/li>
Redesigning health system services for population health, 51.9 percent ranked A<\/li>
Innovative approaches to expense reduction, 51.3 percent ranked A<\/li><\/ul>
After reviewing the detailed results from this year\u2019s survey, we observed four key takeaways that animate hospitals\u2019 and health system\u2019s C-suite agenda right now.

Margin pressures are not relenting, but executives\u2019 top priority has shifted from cost control to revenue growth. <\/b>
For the past two years, C-suite executives have consistently rated margin management as their top strategic priority. This focus reflects the dire financial reality facing many hospitals and health systems today. In 2017, median operating margins among not-for-profit hospitals hit an all-time low of 1.6 percent, after operating expense growth outpaced operating revenue growth for two consecutive years.

Moody\u2019s US not-for-profit hospital preliminary medians for fiscal year 2018 suggest that health systems are starting to show signs of financial stability, with operating margins holding steady as the growth of revenues and expenses converged last year. However, margins remain razor thin because of sustained downward pressure on revenue growth and declining patient volumes, especially as more patients receive care in outpatient settings. While cost containment remains a major strategic priority, executives have shifted more of their focus to strategies designed to bolster revenue growth moving forward.

Executives are looking beyond the hospital to capture new revenue growth. <\/b>
In contrast to previous periods of margin pressure, structural shifts within the industry\u2014rather than temporary declines in the overall economy\u2014are driving today\u2019s revenue challenges. As a result, hospitals and health systems are seeking new strategies for capturing revenue growth. \u201cIncreasing ambulatory access\u201d and \u201cstrengthening primary care alignment\u201d were among the highest-scoring topics on this year\u2019s survey; both topics also experienced a notable increase in interest relative to 2018.

Interest in growing the outpatient procedural book of business remained steady. Overall, executives remain hyper-focused on ambulatory growth, with a particular interest in moving upstream and capturing revenue from access and primary-care focused strategies.

Different types of organizations are embracing different strategies for growing revenue. While all respondents expressed strong interest in improving ambulatory access, leaders from larger health system also indicate intentions to explore diversified revenue streams.

Physicians will be critical to margin management efforts across the board. <\/b>
In 2018, when executives were laser-focused on cost control, executives\u2019 interest in physician-related topics dropped. This year, however, leaders are highlighting physicians\u2019 integral role in both revenue growth and cost control, and physician-related issues returned as a leading priority.

Physician-related topics scored even higher among CEOs than other C-suite respondents, indicating a strong likelihood that hospitals and health systems will place more time and effort on physician partnership to advance margin goals. However, strengthening ties with physicians could be increasingly difficult for hospital and health systems. Private equity firms, health plans, retailers and technology companies are all vying with hospitals and health systems for physician talent and are fueling unprecedented competition in the market for physician partners.

Innovation is becoming a key response to industry disruption. <\/b>
In addition to the C-suite, our survey also polls broader hospital and health system administrators. This year, the highest ranked topic across all respondent groups was \u201chardwiring innovation into planning, improvement and staff culture,\u201d with 51 percent of the 330 respondents ranking it with an \u201cA.\u201d This same topic was ranked No. 8 on the list in 2018.

The rising interest in innovation demonstrates hospital and health system\u2019s reaction to intensifying financial pressures and competition from new entrants to the health care market\u2014especially Silicon Valley, big tech companies and private equity firms\u2014and the need to evolve quickly in an industry facing disruption.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

C-Suite priorities shift to find ways to grow revenue

More for you