Healthcare leaders are zeroed in on growth and modernization, according to a recent report from Optum.
The company surveyed 150 healthcare leaders from the vice president level and up. Eighty-five percent of respondents came from the C-suites of health providers, plans, employers, life science organizations and government agencies.
When asked what they consider the industry's greatest challenges, nearly half of leaders mentioned growth. This is a result of the current economic environment, which is forcing organizations to take a defensive approach, according to Optum.
Here are the top challenges facing healthcare right now, as ranked by the industry's decision-makers:
1. Growth — 49 percent of leaders mentioned this
2. System modernization — 39 percent
3. Workforce challenges — 35 percent
4. Lowering the total cost of care — 34 percent
5. Data security — 33 percent
6. Data and analytic insight — 32 percent
7. Financial sustainability — 31 percent
8 (tie). Reducing administrative spend — 29 percent
8 (tie). Emerging technology — 29 percent
10 (tie). Organizational agility — 27 percent
10 (tie). Price transparency — 27 percent
12. Evolving payment methods — 23 percent
13. Changing regulatory policy — 21 percent
14. New consumer expectations — 20 percent
15 (tie). Improving health equity — 17 percent
15 (tie). Access to care — 17 percent
15 (tie.). Evolving delivery methods — 17 percent
18 (tie). New market disruptors — 3 percent
18 (tie). Supply chain disruption — 3 percent