Feri Naseh

expert panel

In an era when health systems pour billions into digital infrastructure, the question of “What is ROI in healthtech?” has never been more urgent. The members of Senior Executive Healthcare Think Tank, a curated group of experts in patient experience, workforce strategy, equity, quality and technology, draw on deep experience—from EHR transformations to consumer medical devices and mental health platforms—to redefine how ROI is measured and communicated in today’s healthcare landscape. Traditional ROI calculations centered on cost savings or headcount efficiencies are no longer sufficient. As digital investments stretch beyond basic IT systems into remote monitoring, AI and patient-centered care, value must also be defined in terms of clinical outcomes, adoption, user trust and longer-term impact. This shift matters: In a recent survey, fewer than 30% of health systems reported “significant ROI” from their virtual care initiatives. To navigate this evolving terrain, Think Tank members share their perspectives on the metrics that matter—and how leaders can align their measurement frameworks with both business goals and mission-driven purpose.

expert panel

Across healthcare systems, the excitement around generative AI is palpable—from diagnostics that interpret imaging with near-human precision to chatbots that streamline patient communication. Yet the same momentum fueling this technological revolution also exposes the cracks beneath it: siloed systems, governance challenges and talent shortfalls that hinder adoption at scale. According to a recent survey, more than 80% of healthcare executives see AI as vital to their strategy, but a mere 13% feel they have a clear strategy for how to use it. Members of the Senior Executive Healthcare Think Tank—a curated community of leaders across patient experience, policy and health innovation—agree that the promise of AI will remain unrealized until foundational gaps in governance, data infrastructure and workforce readiness are addressed. Below, they dive into these gaps and what healthcare leaders must do to close them before AI can have any meaningful impact on current healthcare systems—because, as their insights show, AI can’t scale without trust, integration and people who understand both medicine and machines.

expert panel

Across boardrooms and innovation labs, established health systems and provider organizations are asking the same question: As capital again floods healthtech, how should incumbents respond? Members of the Senior Executive Healthcare Think Tank bring deep expertise in patient experience, workforce strategy, equity, policy and technology to help guide that answer. In 2024, venture capital investment into healthcare rose to $23 billion (from $20 billion in 2023), with nearly 30% of that funding directed to AI-enabled ventures. In the first half of 2025, healthtech investors injected $6.4 billion into U.S.-based digital health companies—fueled largely by AI‑driven innovation. That renewed momentum intensifies the pressure—and the opportunity—for incumbents to move beyond incumbency toward true transformation. However, the Think Tank’s experts caution: The window to adapt is narrow, and missteps risk disruption. What follows are thematic frameworks, expert-driven insights and real‑world examples to help senior executives in provider organizations navigate partnerships, acquisitions and internal innovation.

expert panel

As healthcare costs rise faster than reimbursement rates, insurers like UnitedHealth and Molina are grappling with shrinking margins—and the ripple effects are being felt across the care continuum. From rising drug prices and expensive therapies to increased patient utilization and workforce shortages, these challenges are straining traditional payer-provider dynamics and threatening the affordability and accessibility of care. Recent financial disclosures illustrate the urgency of transformation. UnitedHealth, for instance, cut its profit outlook amid unexpectedly high medical claims costs, triggering sharp stock declines and signaling that traditional models may no longer suffice. As margins compress, the imperative to rethink payer-provider relationships has never been stronger. To understand how healthcare leaders can preserve access and affordability in this evolving landscape, we turned to members of the Senior Executive Healthcare Think Tank —a curated group of experts in patient experience, policy, digital health, equity and workforce transformation. Their insights reveal not only how payer-provider relationships are changing, but also what strategies healthcare organizations must adopt now to ensure care delivery remains equitable, efficient and financially sustainable.