The healthcare landscape recently has seen a number of high-profile job openings posing enormous challenges. This begs the question: Who would take the helm of a sinking ship, and why?

Craig Albanese, MD, an academic pediatric surgeon and former COO of Duke University Health System, took over as CEO of the Durham, N.C.-based system in March. 

Many hospitals and health systems may be struggling financially, but consumers often see a sprawling, profitable and "self-serving" industry that fails to improve life expectancy and imposes debt on thousands of households across the country, Paul Keckley says in his weekly report posted Oct. 16.

In a presentation at the 8th Annual Becker's Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Meeting, Colleen Goethals, the vice president of mid revenue cycle at Xtend Healthcare, discussed the impact of denials in healthcare and how to mitigate them, as well as the significance of effective appeals. 

Bosses across the U.S. have a lot on their plates as they navigate their roles. Among the issues facing some: People are using sick days more often.

CEO turnover has continued in healthcare as leaders leave their posts for various reasons, such as early retirement or deciding to take on a different role. This turnover is occurring at hospitals and health systems. But it has also occurred over the last year at hospital associations.

Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. are making room in their C-suites for a new physician- and nurse-focused role: chief clinical operations officer.

Walgreens is welcoming a new CEO Oct. 28 as one of the company's former chief executives remains highly involved in the direction of the business, Bloomberg reports. 

Gone are the days when hospital and health system CIOs focus only on technology implementation and vendor management, while CFOs focus exclusively on budgeting and finances.

Amid leadership turnover, hospitals and health systems have various choices in terms of filling executive positions, such as appointing a successor from inside the organization or selecting an external —  or internal — professional to take the role on an interim basis during the search for a permanent replacement. 

Growth is a major priority for health system CEOs. The idea of "strength in numbers" is reflected in a lengthening list of transactions and acquisitions — often including the incorporation of a smaller health system into a larger, more stable one. Oftentimes, a growing system needs to realign its leadership to create an aligned, integrated entity. 

Ruth Colby, president and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Ill., died Oct. 15, according to The Herald-News. She was 69. 

Becker's asked C-suite executives from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to share their organization's areas of growth for the next few years. 

The role of top hospital and health system executives is evolving with the push toward defining a great culture as health systems consolidate, reimagining care delivery and boosting the workforce for a more financially sustainable future.

Amid rising drug and healthcare costs, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, and other challenges, health systems continue their quest to reduce costs, improve revenue, and operations all while working toward the shared goal of providing top-notch care and helping to improve patient outcomes.

When Denny Martin, DO, president of Sparrow Hospital, learned of the Feb. 13 shooting at Michigan State University in East Lansing, he immediately shifted to coordinating the response. What ensued involved ensuring available staffing and operating rooms, among other tasks.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have announced that their decision to partner includes plans to construct a freestanding inpatient cancer hospital in Boston at an estimated cost of $1.68 billion.

Nearly four years later, challenges wrought from the pandemic continue to persist and put strain on the healthcare industry. Due to many factors identified within the workplace system by the U.S Surgeon General – such as excessive workloads, administrative burdens, and lack of organizational support – more and more health care workers are being driven to burnout[1].

Rural health systems, like their metropolitan counterparts, are faced with an array of challenges that include high inflation, staffing shortages and the rising costs of labor and supplies, but often face unique challenges when it comes to barriers to care, patient populations and health insurance status, among others. 

On the evening of Oct. 9, Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health, spoke at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit.