Reflecting on American College of Healthcare Executives Congress 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed my time this week speaking at #ACHECongress, where I shared my thoughts with American College of Healthcare Executives attendees on how health system leaders can balance the challenges now facing the industry with the work of building a thriving organization. I’ll share a few takeaways here.

I offered my take on the foremost healthcare trends facing health systems and how we must respond:

1. Growing Medicare population and the widening gap between government reimbursement for care and the actual cost of providing that care necessitates more focus on Medicare Advantage and integrated home and digital support.
2. Inflation and permanent increases in wage, drug and supply costs drives need to pursue efficiencies and value-based care + partner with employers and health plans on affordable options.
3. Clinical workforce shortages create need to build talent pipelines and employ flexible work policies to deliver a renewed caregiver experience.
4. New disruptors in a dynamic landscape require us to compete for patients by making it easier for them to access, navigate and benefit from our comprehensive coordinated care.
5. Care delivery is increasingly shifting away from hospitals to clinics, virtual and home settings, which means we must create a digitally-enabled connected and seamless end-to-end care experience across all care settings.
6. The unprecedented change wrought by the digital revolution requires the use of AI, machine learning and automation to make delivering and receiving care easier and more affordable.

With such strong market forces now at work, how well our organizations adapt is largely defined by how we – as leaders – approach change. As Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said: “No one wants to follow a pessimist… You can be skeptical, you can be realistic, but you can’t be cynical.”

In this environment, successful leaders cannot fear change or become paralyzed by it. They must embrace it and see the opportunity it presents. To thrive in this environment, I encourage leaders to:

• Shift your mindset on curiosity and optimism to push through barriers, invite other perspectives and stay focused on possibilities and promise.
• Invest in people and leadership to bring out the best and cultivate their capabilities.
• Set a direction and act with courage by confronting reality and taking the “no-regret” actions necessary to reach your desired destination.
• Take risks and keep learning. Keep grinding and persisting – we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take.
• Communicate, listen and ask for help. Tell the story, starting with the “why” and build trust through clarity, transparency and feedback.
• Commit time to learning and building personal resilience to ready yourself for the work ahead.

Despite challenges facing the industry, I am optimistic about the future of healthcare. This is particularly true when I see the caliber of leaders at events like this one.

I’d love your thoughts below to continue the discussion.