225: Patients are back – so why aren't hospital margins?

For years, health systems have been holding their breath to see if patient volumes would finally return to pre-pandemic levels. Because—per conventional wisdom--if volumes return, then so will operating margins. Right? Not so fast. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Sebastian Beckmann and Elizabeth Orr to explore why with the positive volume forecast we see in our projections won’t automatically translate to a healthy financial outlook. Later, Optum Advisory expert Alex Kist joins the group to share what it’s looked like to help one health system put their local data into action to achieve the kind of differentiated growth our experts have been touting. Links: Market Scenario Planner 3 ways Boulder Community Health became a provider of choice for CV care Revolutionizing cardiology at Boulder Community Health Ep. 221: How will health system growth look different in 2025 and beyond? Healthcare Consulting Services | Optum Advisory Advisory Board's 7 key factors for future volume growth Charted: The financial gap between rich and poor hospitals grows If you are looking for hands-on support, email us at [email protected] or learn more about how Advisory Board can help. Join 165,000+ healthcare leaders and get the industry’s most important news in your inbox—every day. Strategic Planner's survey 2024 Survey insights: 6 priorities for health system strategists in 2024 Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.