December 2022 | Report

2023 Outlook: The Future of the Healthcare Industry

Customer expectations are rising, and companies are being asked to do more with less—why a digital operating model and mindset shift holds the key to unlocking growth in 2023.

The need to provide high-quality, personalized care has never been greater in the healthcare industry. Patients want convenience, personalization, and accessibility in the same way they receive it from their grocery stores, banks, and online shopping experiences at the same time that the science of drug development and care delivery are allowing for more personalization and precision than ever before. This comes at a time when payers, providers, and life sciences companies are being asked to do more with less in the wake of workforce challenges, shifting market and regulatory pressures, and a potential economic downturn.

These challenges also present an opportunity. The organizations that adopt a digital-first mindset and invest in capabilities that deliver to patients and help evolve workforce culture stand to gain the most in 2023.

2-Minute Takedown

Providers

Hospitals and health systems reported significant losses in 2022, and labor challenges—both staffing shortages and burnout—remain prevalent. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, integrating technologies and leveraging diverse datasets will help improve experiences across the board—from patients to caregivers to transactional users.

Payers

Rising inflation may lead to higher healthcare costs and premium increases—putting pressure on the one segment of the healthcare industry that remained in a strong financial position much of 2022. Payers will need to collaborate with providers, find innovative ways to deploy cash reserves, and actively improve their capacity to leverage data.

Life sciences

Workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inflationary effects of pressure to drive down drug and treatment costs has put life sciences companies in an arduous spot. A complex value chain requires digital investments in both tools and ways of working—which in turn impacts cultural and operational changes that need to be monitored.

Mergers & acquisitions

Two years of record-breaking activity have been replaced by uncertainty in a market currently defined by high interest rates and economic unknowns. Still, opportunities exist—especially in tech-enabled care coordination innovation and technology deployment—that has kept activity high.