July 2025 Issue of Becker’s Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
Garrick Stoldt, VP. Finance, CFO, St. Peter’s Healthcare System
Few CFOs remain in their roles long enough to witness two decades of transformation in healthcare finance — but Garrick Stoldt is not your typical CFO.
Rob Allen, President and CEO, Intermountain Health
As nonprofit hospitals and health systems face mounting scrutiny over their tax-exempt status, Intermountain Health President and CEO Rob Allen says it’s time to better define — and communicate — what nonprofit organizations deliver to communities.
Robert Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health
Beyond his official role as CEO of Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Garrett also sees himself as the system’s chief mission officer — a role he says reflects the values that have guided his leadership.
Erik Wexler, President and CEO, Providence
Since taking on the role of CEO in January 2025, Erik Wexler has openly addressed Providence’s headwinds by taking several decisive actions to ensure financial sustainability: placing a freeze on nonclinical hiring, laying off about 4% of Portland, Ore.-based Providence Health Plan’s workforce, and reorganizing top-level leadership.
Robert Brenner, MD, President and CEO, Valley Health System
Robert Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Paramus, N.J.-based Valley Health System, knows what it means to lead amid uncertainty — a lesson he traces to his first job in the Air Force during the Gulf War.
Rizwana Fareeduddin, MD, Executive Medical Director, AdventHealth for Women
At AdventHealth for Women, OB-GYN care does not mean care only for pregnant and birthing women. The system strives to care for women across a lifetime.
Providence’s CEO on healthcare’s ‘perfect storm’
Since taking on the role of CEO in January 2025, Erik Wexler has openly addressed Providence’s headwinds by taking several decisive actions to ensure financial sustainability: placing a freeze on nonclinical hiring, laying off about 4% of Portland, Ore.-based Providence Health Plan’s workforce, and reorganizing top-level leadership.
The health system workforce of the future: 5 bold predictions
Hospitals and health systems are undergoing a seismic shift in how they structure, support and scale their workforces.
Health systems reimagine finance teams
Hospitals are automating repetitive and rule-based tasks, enabling significant efficiencies in the finance and revenue cycle departments.
Has AI been good for healthcare?
AI has already made a lot of changes in healthcare, from automating tasks previously done by humans to creating operational efficiencies. But has the technology been a net positive for the industry?
Health systems add, drop roles with AI
Health system CIOs and digital leaders are rapidly integrating AI and automation into daily workflows for clinical and administrative teams. Their work has already transformed operations and traditional healthcare teams, and more change is to come.
Hospital CEO exits surge 150%, month to month
Hospitals reported 15 CEO exits in April — a 150% increase from six in March and the same percentage increase from April 2024.
The new age of physicians on the horizon
The environment in which physicians practice is ever evolving, but in recent years, the changes have some wondering: Is this the end of a golden age for physicians?
How BradenHealth ‘puts its money where its mouth is’ to reopen rural hospitals
At 26 years old, Kyle Kopec is helping reopen previously shuttered hospitals as co-founder and chief compliance officer of BradenHealth.
Houston Methodist added OR cameras — 1,510 more cases followed
Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital opened earlier this year as a “smart hospital” designed with the most advanced digital technologies and capabilities revolutionizing patient care.
Nurses are redefining their roles with AI
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology changing many aspects of healthcare delivery. Some nurses fear the risk of relying too much on it; others see big potential for reducing administrative burden.
The ROI on quality: 7 stats to know
Health systems can achieve significant returns on investment by prioritizing quality and patient safety, according to a June 2 report from the National Association for Healthcare Quality.
The shaky CIO pipeline in healthcare
As hospitals and health systems accelerate their digital transformation efforts, many are confronting a silent but growing leadership gap: the absence of succession planning for CIOs.
How AdventHealth is responding to a women-led movement in care
At AdventHealth for Women, OB-GYN care does not mean care only for pregnant and birthing women. The system strives to care for women across a lifetime.
CFO / FINANCE
‘It’s absolutely critical’: The one thing hospital CFOs can’t let slip today
Few CFOs remain in their roles long enough to witness two decades of transformation in healthcare finance — but Garrick Stoldt is not your typical CFO.
Intermountain CEO: Nonprofit hospitals must clarify their value amid tax-exempt scrutiny
As nonprofit hospitals and health systems face mounting scrutiny over their tax-exempt status, Intermountain Health President and CEO Rob Allen says it’s time to better define — and communicate — what nonprofit organizations deliver to communities.
Health systems reimagine finance teams
Hospitals are automating repetitive and rule-based tasks, enabling significant efficiencies in the finance and revenue cycle departments.
CEO/STRATEGY
The health system workforce of the future: 5 bold predictions
Hospitals and health systems are undergoing a seismic shift in how they structure, support and scale their workforces.
Hospital CEO exits surge 150%, month to month
Hospitals reported 15 CEO exits in April — a 150% increase from six in March and the same percentage increase from April 2024.
Why Hackensack Meridian’s CEO is also its ‘chief mission officer’
Beyond his official role as CEO of Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Garrett also sees himself as the system’s chief mission officer — a role he says reflects the values that have guided his leadership.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Providence’s CEO on healthcare’s ‘perfect storm’
Since taking on the role of CEO in January 2025, Erik Wexler has openly addressed Providence’s headwinds by taking several decisive actions to ensure financial sustainability: placing a freeze on nonclinical hiring, laying off about 4% of Portland, Ore.-based Providence Health Plan’s workforce, and reorganizing top-level leadership.
How BradenHealth ‘puts its money where its mouth is’ to reopen rural hospitals
At 26 years old, Kyle Kopec is helping reopen previously shuttered hospitals as co-founder and chief compliance officer of BradenHealth.
The pushback Valley Health’s CEO didn’t see coming — and how he adjusted
Robert Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Paramus, N.J.-based Valley Health System, knows what it means to lead amid uncertainty — a lesson he traces to his first job in the Air Force during the Gulf War.
INNOVATION
Houston Methodist added OR cameras — 1,510 more cases followed
Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital opened earlier this year as a “smart hospital” designed with the most advanced digital technologies and capabilities revolutionizing patient care.
Stanford pilots ChatEHR
California-based Stanford Health Care is piloting an internally developed, AI-backed software designed to revolutionize clinician interaction with the EHR.
Nurses are redefining their roles with AI
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology changing many aspects of healthcare delivery. Some nurses fear the risk of relying too much on it; others see big potential for reducing administrative burden.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
The new age of physicians on the horizon
The environment in which physicians practice is ever evolving, but in recent years, the changes have some wondering: Is this the end of a golden age for physicians?
The ROI on quality: 7 stats to know
Health systems can achieve significant returns on investment by prioritizing quality and patient safety, according to a June 2 report from the National Association for Healthcare Quality.
Hospitals prioritize safety, staffing over readmissions in nursing strategy
Lowering readmission rates ranks lowest among 20 executive-level priorities in nursing care, according to a report from NSI Nursing Solutions, a healthcare recruitment agency.
CIO/HEALTH IT
Has AI been good for healthcare?
AI has already made a lot of changes in healthcare, from automating tasks previously done by humans to creating operational efficiencies. But has the technology been a net positive for the industry?
Healthcare’s tech-empowered workforce is here
Artificial intelligence is transforming all aspects of healthcare, including the workforce. But that doesn’t mean AI is replacing jobs; instead, health system leaders are leveraging the technology to empower teams and elevate leaders.
The shaky CIO pipeline in healthcare
As hospitals and health systems accelerate their digital transformation efforts, many are confronting a silent but growing leadership gap: the absence of succession planning for CIOs.
Health systems add, drop roles with AI
Health system CIOs and digital leaders are rapidly integrating AI and automation into daily workflows for clinical and administrative teams. Their work has already transformed operations and traditional healthcare teams, and more change is to come.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
How AdventHealth is responding to a women-led movement in care
At AdventHealth for Women, OB-GYN care does not mean care only for pregnant and birthing women. The system strives to care for women across a lifetime.
Where Judy Faulkner ranks on Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women list
Forbes released its list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women on June 3 — and Epic founder and CEO Judy Faulkner ranks near the top.
