Healthcare executive market research

Leaders innovate to tackle top challenges

WHO WE SURVEYED

300

U.S. healthcare executives 
across 5 functions

•  Strategy and innovation

•  Finance and operations

•  Clinical care

•  Technology

•  People

Tasked with improving care outcomes 
and alleviating cost pressures with 
limited resources, healthcare executives 
are identifying innovative methods for evolving existing business models and creating a more digitally focused and consumer-centric future.

Huron’s longitudinal research tracks 
how healthcare executives across five functional areas are responding to 
today’s top trends and challenges.


 


 

Explore the insights below ↓

Top 10 healthcare trends 

Digital advancements top of mind

Digital and technology trends continue to rise compared to previous research, confirming leaders’ belief that navigating healthcare’s future lies in successful digital transformation. Leaders also indicate an increased focus on care access and virtual care delivery as consumer preferences evolve

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Top trends


This year

3-5 years

  1.  Technology infrastructure  
  2.  Care access transformation 
  3.  Digital management and analytics 
  4.  Virtual care delivery
  5.  Cost reduction/optimization 
  6.  Revenue growth 
  7.  Managing health system capacity 
  8.  Health equity 
  9.  Redesigning workforce
  10.  Supply chain management and modernization

*Bold = new trend

= change from previous research



Top 10 healthcare challenges

Leaders grapple with interconnected challenges


Healthcare executives report a wide and even focus on challenges, indicating a clear view of the relationship between care, cost, performance, and growth. Data-informed decision-making takes the top spot as leaders aim to harness the power of analytics to resolve complexities across business, clinical, and people areas.

Current top challenges



Change from previous research




+47%




Investing in data structures for better decision-making




Supply chain transformation




+23%




-28%




Cost reduction/optimization




Regulatory compliance




N/A




Redefining portfolio/changing healthcare business model




-27%




0%




Finding the right mix of inpatient and outpatient services




-4%




Workforce shortages




Managing health system capacity




-8%




Addressing consumer experience




-18%




Operational efficiency using advanced analytics (AI/ML)




0%




Financial pressures and cost-saving measures

Leaders take comprehensive approach to address financial pressures

To better understand industrywide revenue and cost challenges, healthcare leaders 
rank the key financial pressures their organizations face.


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Revenue pressures



Cost/expense pressures



1.  Pricing optimization

2.  Revenue cycle management

3.  Adding digital-enabled revenue

4.  Pressure from competition

In response to widespread financial pressures, leaders are balancing a combination of core 
and transformational cost-saving measures to improve financial health and fund growth priorities.


Top cost-saving measures this year

Dollar sign within a gear icon to represent supply chain

Supply chain cost reductions

38%

Laptop with a line graph and gear icon to represent system interoperability

Increasing interoperability & system optimization

36%

Pie chart icon to represent healthcare organizations’ portfolios

Redefining portfolio

35%

Bag of money with a stack of coins icon to represent an organization’s economic model

Reconfiguring economic model

30%

Three human outlines icon to represent healthcare workforce

Workforce cost reductions

31%

Top investments and growth priorities

Technology, employees, and 
consumers key investment priorities

This year, investment areas and growth priorities go hand-in-hand as leaders aim to enhance the employee and consumer experience, modernize operations, and strategically deploy technology to inform growth initiatives.


Stick figure ascending stairs icon

How leaders rank growth priorities



  • Consumer engagement 
    and retention
  • Strategic cost management
  • Data management & analytical decision making
  • Integrated care delivery models
  • Redefine portfolio
  • Staffing recruitment and retention
  • Adoption of AI tools
  • Adoption of AI tools
  • Mergers and acquisitions

Where leaders are investing



  • Investing in digital tools
  • Improving care access
  • Redefining portfolio/changing healthcare business model
  • Revenue growth
  • Improving employment productivity
  • Investing in AI/machine learning
  • Investing in AI/machine learning
  • Revenue cycle automation/ optimization
  • Improving consumer/
    customer experience

How leaders are implementing AI


Diagnostic and generative artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a new trend expected to impact organizations in the next three to five years. Leaders cite several areas where they’re implementing or plan to implement more traditional 
forms of AI and automation:



77%


are investing in intelligent automation for care delivery



70%


are prioritizing AI tools and RPA as a strategic growth priority 




29%


plan to 
adopt AI tools and RPA to  save costs




23%


are automating revenue 
cycles to confront challenges


3 ways healthcare leaders are driving change

With widespread trends and challenges influencing healthcare, how will organizations adapt? Leaders identify three key actions they’re implementing today. 


Click to explore

01


02


03


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