GHX Survey Reveals Healthcare Executives' Top Four Expectations for the Next Decade

A new survey conducted by Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) sheds light on the prevailing attitudes and expectations regarding the future of the U.S. healthcare system. The survey, which tapped senior healthcare executives for their insight, indicates that the industry will continue to undergo significant changes due to various internal and external forces, including technology adoption, government policy, market competition and global economics.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, there is more optimism than pessimism regarding healthcare's future. Seventy percent of survey respondents said they expect public trust and confidence in the U.S. healthcare system to improve gradually during the next five to 10 years.

"Healthcare is in the midst of generational change, and I'm inspired by the prevailing sense of optimism expressed by senior healthcare leaders in this survey,” says Tina Vatanka Murphy, president and CEO, GHX. "The way I see our industry mobilizing now is a testament to its deep and abiding commitment to affordable, quality healthcare for all.”

Key Takeaways

Artificial Intelligence Will Have a Profound Impact

The implementation of AI solutions in hospital operations is projected to accelerate and emerge as the industry's most disruptive force. The accelerated adoption of cloud-based ERP systems has led to centralized, unified data repositories where technologies like AI and machine learning (ML) can flourish. Automating administrative tasks that don't add value, combined with AI and ML-driven industry data and intelligent analytics, is propelling healthcare's digital transformation. This shift promises significant improvements in cost efficiency, quality of care and patient outcomes.

• • More than half of the respondents expect AI to reduce operating costs by 5% annually beginning next year.
  • More than 50% of healthcare executives surveyed say AI's impact will likely be felt in the next one to three years.
  • AI will create a high level of disruption, with 60% of respondents indicating AI will have a significant impact on the healthcare industry. ​

"Responsible use of AI will have the most profound impact on healthcare in a generation—bringing new possibilities for better patient outcomes, operational efficiencies and data-driven decision-making,” Murphy adds. "Supply chain automation, trusted data and clinical integration are converging to become the foundation for the AI-powered supply chain of the future and the path we're forging with our customers today will revolutionize the industry for decades to come.”

Dominance of Integrated Health Systems

The healthcare industry will continue to adopt models that promote health equity and address the issues of access, cost and outcomes. Integrated health systems are anticipated to become the primary model for providing and funding care because they offer flexibility and consistency in delivering affordable care across patient populations. The ongoing shift to integrated models is expected to improve patient outcomes, reduce administrative costs and ensure easy access to care regardless of a patient's zip code. In particular, the emergence of the ‘payvider' model will help bridge the gap between the cost of health equity investments and the value of making affordable, high-quality care available to all.

• • 70% of healthcare executives surveyed say that competition among integrated health systems will heat up during the next seven years.
  • 84% of respondents believe integrated health systems will be the dominant structure in ten years, and 47% indicate they will significantly impact the healthcare industry.

Government Exerts Influence Through Policy Shifts

Government policy and influence are expected to have a measurable impact on industry operations.

• • More than 80% of respondents expect bundled payments to become the standard for most hospital inpatient services in the next ten years, and 50% of all respondents expect bundled payments to have a significant impact on the industry.
  • Looking beyond the next decade, 74% of respondents think U.S. voters will likely approve a single-payer/Medicare for All system, with 42% of all respondents indicating it would severely impact the healthcare industry.

"Hospital and health system leaders do not believe their future is a repeat of their past. They are adapting their organizations to industry changes that impact their long-term sustainability while adjusting near-term priorities to enhance operating efficiencies and performance. They're not paralyzed by change: they're intentional and focused,” said Paul Keckley, managing editor of The Keckley Report.

Financial Pressures Will Drive Consolidation and Competition

Rising costs, financial pressures and anticipated industry consolidation are expected to drive several shifts, including fewer suppliers serving providers.

• • Most of the healthcare executives surveyed (70%) say that it is very likely that national health spending will increase by at least 4% annually for the next three years.

While demand for medical devices, equipment and supplies is strong, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted supplier and provider operations.

• • Fifty percent of respondents expect the number of suppliers to decrease during the next one to three years as financial pressures on hospitals increase, which will have a moderate industry impact.

Survey Methodology

GHX surveyed U.S. hospitals, health systems and manufacturers in April 2024. The survey yielded responses from various C-suite roles and senior supply chain executives representing various organization sizes and entity types. The questions were developed in concert with Paul H. Keckley, healthcare policy analyst and managing editor of The Keckley Report.

About GHX

Building on decades of collaboration among providers, manufacturers, distributors and other industry stakeholders, Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) is leading the charge in helping organizations run the new business of healthcare. By automating key business processes and translating evidence-based analytics and data into meaningful action, GHX is helping the healthcare ecosystem to move faster, operate more intelligently and achieve greater outcomes. With the support of GHX, healthcare organizations have removed billions of dollars of wasteful healthcare spend. For more information on GHX's suite of cloud-based supply chain solutions, visit www.ghx.com and The Healthcare Hub.