Efforts to improve patient experience have risen on the priority lists of some hospital and health system C-suites, according to a report from Sage Growth Partners.
The consulting firm surveyed more than 100 hospital and health system C-suite leaders in the second quarter of 2025. Respondents represented a mix of integrated delivery networks (35%), academic medical centers (25%) and community or independent hospitals (37%). Most respondents came from smaller systems, with nearly two-thirds representing organizations operating 10 or fewer hospitals. Executives included chief medical officers, CIOs, CFOs and CEOs, among other roles.
Three report findings:
1. Nearly half (49%) of respondents ranked patient experience as their top strategic initiative for the next two years, up from 14% in 2020.
2. Staff recruitment and retention followed at 47%, with patient safety ranking third at 27%.
3. Healthcare executives are increasingly adopting virtual care and digital health technologies to advance care delivery and patient experience. Ninety-three percent of executives said integrating virtual care into their care delivery models was “somewhat important” or “very critical.”
“Patient experience has been on a steady climb up the C-suite agenda, and it’s now firmly at the top,” Dan D’Orazio, CEO of Sage Growth Partners, said in an Oct. 28 news release. “Healthcare leaders recognize that to remain competitive, meeting consumer expectations for digital engagement is no longer optional, it is a top priority. Our newest report helps executives better understand how their peers are navigating the intersection of patient experience, virtual care, and digital transformation.”
