November 2025 Issue of Becker’s Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
John Couris. President and CEO at Tampa General Hospital
Hospital and health system CEOs navigating the sector’s financial and operational challenges are rethinking what growth means and how their organizations deliver care.
Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD. Chief quality and clinical transformation officer at University Hospitals
“No margin, no mission” is a familiar refrain in healthcare — and for good reason.
Barbara Martin, BSN. CEO at BJM Healthcare Consulting
Hospital and health system CEOs navigating the sector’s financial and operational challenges are rethinking what growth means and how their organizations deliver care.
Andrew Molosky. President and CEO at Chapters Health System
Hospital and health system CEOs navigating the sector’s financial and operational challenges are rethinking what growth means and how their organizations deliver care.
Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, CRNA. Executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Advocate Health
As health systems look to adopt ambient AI to ease nursing documentation, it can be a challenge to get nurses to verbalize tasks they are accustomed to doing in their heads.
Healthcare’s strained margin-mission gap
“No margin, no mission” is a familiar refrain in healthcare — and for good reason.
CEOs on the ‘where’ and ‘how’ of redefining growth
Hospital and health system CEOs navigating the sector’s financial and operational challenges are rethinking what growth means and how their organizations deliver care.
Why personal relationships among executives matter in payer-provider contract negotiations
As health systems and insurers across the country clash over payment rates and contract terms, personal relationships among executives on both sides can be the deciding factor in how those negotiations play out.
How leaders rework systems to retain nurses
Hospitals are in a bind. As workforce shortages deepen and pay pressures mount, health systems are increasingly turning to technology to help retain their nurses. Many are piloting virtual nursing initiatives, ambient documentation and other AI-enabled tools designed to ease workloads.
A new model to measure nursing’s economic value
A new model aims to help hospitals and health system leaders better understand how investments in nursing contribute to financial sustainability.
‘Never seen before’: Why are California hospitals taking a hit?
As hospitals across the U.S. continue to feel financial strain from tightened margins, rising costs and workforce shortages, California has emerged as a hot spot, with rural facilities grappling with bankruptcies, emergency department shutdowns and increased uncertainty regarding their long-term survival.
Expenses per physician top $1.1M, up 15% in 2 years: 4 notes
Physician practice expense growth is driving additional investment across the U.S., according to Strata.
58% of physician leaders eye CEO role: McKinsey survey
Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. physician leaders aspire to become a CEO one day, according to a McKinsey & Co. survey.
Atrium Health gets $100K to train nurses on ambient AI
As health systems look to adopt ambient AI to ease nursing documentation, it can be a challenge to get nurses to verbalize tasks they are accustomed to doing in their heads.
8 predictors of nurse burnout — and how leaders can help
Routinely leaving late is the strongest predictor of nurse burnout and is linked to a 2% to 6% higher turnover rate compared to teams on which nurses leave on time, according to a new report from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and Laudio.
AI ROI slower than promised, leaders say
Hospitals across the country are investing heavily in artificial intelligence tools, lured by vendor promises of rapid financial returns, streamlined workflows and newfound clinical capacity. But according to several chief medical information officers, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced.
Hospitals’ margin recovery faces major setbacks
Many nonprofit hospitals and health systems have made steady progress on financial turnarounds since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic — though others continue to struggle — but new and persistent challenges threaten to derail those efforts.
Average new CEO age falls to 9-year low
The average age of new CEOs declined in 2025 to its lowest point since 2016, according to a report from executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates.
CFO / FINANCE
VCU Health CFO’s advice for ambulatory growth
James Siegel has been senior vice president and CFO of Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health for around four-and-a-half years, but in that time, the health system has significantly invested in both ambulatory and inpatient assets.
CFO tenures at the 10 largest health systems
Healthcare CFOs’ tenures last an average of 4.7 years, according to a September report from Crist Kolder Associates.
‘Never seen before’: Why are California hospitals taking a hit?
As hospitals across the U.S. continue to feel financial strain from tightened margins, rising costs and workforce shortages, California has emerged as a hot spot, with rural facilities grappling with bankruptcies, emergency department shutdowns and increased uncertainty regarding their long-term survival.
Hospitals’ margin recovery faces major setbacks
Many nonprofit hospitals and health systems have made steady progress on financial turnarounds since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic — though others continue to struggle — but new and persistent challenges threaten to derail those efforts.
Expenses per physician top $1.1M, up 15% in 2 years: 4 notes
Physician practice expense growth is driving additional investment across the U.S., according to Strata.
CEO/STRATEGY
Healthcare’s strained margin-mission gap
“No margin, no mission” is a familiar refrain in healthcare — and for good reason.
58% of physician leaders eye CEO role: McKinsey survey
Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. physician leaders aspire to become a CEO one day, according to a McKinsey & Co. survey.
Hospital CEO exits up 6% year over year: 4 things to know
Hospitals reported 85 CEO exits from January through August 2025 — a nearly 6% increase from 80 recorded during the same period in 2024.
Average new CEO age falls to 9-year low
The average age of new CEOs declined in 2025 to its lowest point since 2016, according to a report from executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
CEOs on the ‘where’ and ‘how’ of redefining growth
Hospital and health system CEOs navigating the sector’s financial and operational challenges are rethinking what growth means and how their organizations deliver care.
Why personal relationships among executives matter in payer-provider contract negotiations
As health systems and insurers across the country clash over payment rates and contract terms, personal relationships among executives on both sides can be the deciding factor in how those negotiations play out.
INNOVATION
Becker’s Health IT conference: 5 key themes
Improving access to care and boosting patient and provider experience via digital — with and without AI — were among the main talking points at this year’s Becker’s Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference.
How leaders rework systems to retain nurses
Hospitals are in a bind. As workforce shortages deepen and pay pressures mount, health systems are increasingly turning to technology to help retain their nurses. Many are piloting virtual nursing initiatives, ambient documentation and other AI-enabled tools designed to ease workloads.
Why Epic doesn’t negotiate prices
Epic doesn’t negotiate prices for its EHR software, surprising — and delighting — some health system clients.
Mayo, Cleveland Clinic invest in augmented reality startup
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic have invested in a $24 million funding round for augmented reality startup MediView.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
Atrium Health gets $100K to train nurses on ambient AI
As health systems look to adopt ambient AI to ease nursing documentation, it can be a challenge to get nurses to verbalize tasks they are accustomed to doing in their heads.
A new model to measure nursing’s economic value
A new model aims to help hospitals and health system leaders better understand how investments in nursing contribute to financial sustainability.
8 predictors of nurse burnout — and how leaders can help
Routinely leaving late is the strongest predictor of nurse burnout and is linked to a 2% to 6% higher turnover rate compared to teams on which nurses leave on time, according to a new report from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and Laudio.
Physicians with the highest attrition rates: Study
The rate of physicians exiting clinical practice is increasing, and some specialties have higher attrition rates than others, according to research published Oct. 7 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
CIO/HEALTH IT
AI ROI slower than promised, leaders say
Hospitals across the country are investing heavily in artificial intelligence tools, lured by vendor promises of rapid financial returns, streamlined workflows and newfound clinical capacity. But according to several chief medical information officers, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced.
5 health system tech leaders who became CEOs
As healthcare moves further into the digital age, with a greater focus on AI and other emerging technologies, health systems have been increasingly elevating tech leaders to chief executive roles.
The health system helping staff find their inner inventor
Hospitals are full of improvised fixes — work-arounds nurses, therapists and other staff members invent to make a task safer or faster. At Radnor, Pa.-based Main Line Health, those solutions are coming out of the shadows. Through a program that pairs clinicians with engineers, Main Line staff members are transforming sketches and conversations into patented devices.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
Healthcare trails other industries in share of women CEOs, CFOs
While the share of women in CEO and CFO roles has risen steadily over the past decade, the growth rate in healthcare has lagged behind other industries, according to a report from executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates.
