Not-for-profit healthcare is at an inflection point. Today, healthcare providers have to grapple with various macroeconomic and microeconomic challenges, while upholding their responsibility to offer the best care to communities in an equitable way.

At the recent 42^nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, presenters from some of the largest and most prestigious integrated providers in the U.S. shared more about their strategies for the future. Read on to discover some of the key themes shaping not-for-profit healthcare in 2024 and beyond.

1. Taking care of everyone in our communities is paramount

Not-for-profit health systems have always served as essential institutions whose missions are to care for their communities. Looking ahead, there will be further emphasis on the importance of health equity, care affordability, impact investing, quality and community-oriented care and behavioral health, as providers seek to ensure that no one gets left behind.

2. Investing in technology and AI to improve care delivery

Many leaders in not-for-profit healthcare are exploring innovative technological solutions that are transformative to the clinical setting. This includes the appropriate use of AI tools to improve care delivery — whether to accelerate scientific discovery, help make better medical decisions or reduce the burden of paperwork to focus on the patient.

3. Improving efficiency through transformational alignment of the system

Aligning different pathways — clinical, cultural and operational — continues to be a focus for large systems looking to create efficient ways to deliver healthcare. A unified platform provides the entire organization with a framework that informs the way people behave, how they make decisions and what they prioritize.

4. Increasing outpatient utilization to fuel focus on asset-light strategies

Providers are also focusing on strategies to create more capacity for high-acuity care. This includes expanding ambulatory networks — or services provided on an outpatient basis — which translates into a lower cost of care for both the patient and the provider.

5. Breaking down barriers by expanding in new ways and new markets

Growth remains an imperative, and partnerships are becoming an increasingly important prong of a system’s strategy. Many providers have realized the benefit of collaboration and specialization to deliver higher-quality care and expand the communities they serve. Partnerships with other healthcare organizations and new entrants may offer a promising avenue to increase speed to market, as well as scale into new lines of services and operational capabilities.

What other trends are defining the future of not-for-profit healthcare?
Contact your J.P. Morgan representative to find out more.