CEOs will convene to discuss strategies and best practices to operate effectively in a new era of healthcare.
The first half of 2025 has thrown more uncertainty at hospital CEOs amid an already-challenging environment.
Between potential policy changes, financial headwinds, and regulatory concerns, hospitals and health systems everywhere are forced to navigate a landscape that is shifting constantly and often without warning.
Here are three pain points that CEOs will explore at next week's HealthLeaders CEO Exchange to better position their organizations for success and sustainability in the rest of the year and beyond.
Workforce
With expenses rising across the board, designing an optimal workforce is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
To build and maintain that type of workforce in 2025, CEOs must consider the generational differences of their workers and how to meet their specific needs. For example, millennials and Gen Z value factors like career development and work-life balance when choosing to work for organizations or stay in their current role.
Though technology's presence continues to increase, it's as important as ever to prioritize the human touch by focusing on strengthening communication and relationships between staff and management. Improving engagement can significantly boost retention and minimize worker turnover, allowing CEOs to save money in the long run.
Workplace
Still, it's vital that leaders identify opportunities to implement technology like AI to supplement their staff and make their workers' lives easier.
Reducing the administrative burden clinicians face by utilizing generative AI for notetaking or other tasks can make for happier physicians and further lessen organizations' reliance on contract labor.
CEOs must also cultivate a more welcoming environment for staff through initiatives that fortify worker safety. Violence in the workplace is a major driver for burnout, which can worsen staffing shortages and place greater pressure on hospitals.
Cybersecurity
One area that has recently come to forefront for CEOs is cybersecurity, with several high-profile cyberattacks wreaking havoc on organizations in the past couple years.
Cybersecurity strategies shouldn't just safeguard from attacks, but also include a response plan in case a threat is realized. Leaders should ensure open communication with their IT teams and work closely with fellow executives like CTOs to emphasize the importance of protecting their and their patients' data.
Having a protocol in place to mitigate the consequences of an attack and continue operations can defend organizations against a disastrous level of lost revenue.
Our 2025 CEO Exchange is June 4-6 at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California.
Are you a CEO or executive leader interested in attending an upcoming event? To inquire about attending the HealthLeaders Exchange event, email us at exchange@healthleadersmedia.com.
The HealthLeaders Exchange is an executive community for sharing ideas, solutions, and insights. Please join the community at our LinkedIn page.
Jay Asser is the CEO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Hospital CEOs must meet generational needs and boost engagement to retain staff and reduce turnover.
Implementing the right technology can improve efficiency, ease burnout, and reduce dependency on contract labor.
Cybersecurity readiness is essential, with proactive defense and response plans key to protecting operations and patient trust.