Hospital and health system leaders are placing greater emphasis on patient experience than ever before, according to an Oct. 28 report from healthcare consultancy Sage Growth Partners.
Sage Growth Partners surveyed 101 C-suite executives from integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers and independent hospitals. The report marks the second installment in a three-part series examining hospital leaders’ views on digital transformation, virtual care and return on investment.
Here are five key findings from the report:
- The report found that 49% of surveyed executives identified patient experience as their top strategic initiative — up from 36% in 2023, 25% in 2022 and just 14% in 2020.
- Nearly 72% of respondents said integrating virtual care services is critical to their care delivery models. Fifty-nine percent offer virtual primary care and remote patient monitoring, while 50% offer virtual telestroke services.
- AI is also emerging as a key enabler, with 81% of executives saying it will have a meaningful impact on expanding home and remote monitoring initiatives.
- Despite these efforts, most organizations struggle to demonstrate a return on digital investments. Fewer than 30% of executives reported significant ROI from their current virtual care offerings, and 78% said they may need to invest in a new core platform to support virtual care within the next one to three years.
- Top technology priorities cited by respondents include improving integration with EHRs and IT systems, enhancing ease of use and incorporating AI into digital health tools.
