Edge Perspectives

Signals and Noise in Healthcare Industry News

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Brian Esser and Jayme Zage, PhD, for a discussion of recent health care headlines and what they may signal for health systems. The conversation explores affordability and AI, hospital rankings, Medicare Advantage tensions, workforce pressures, and GoodRx’s subscription strategy. Together, they separate signal from noise and highlight how leaders can think about technology, payer dynamics, labor supply and consumer engagement in the years ahead.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

ASCs are a Little Tricky for Academics

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 expert Tony Guth to explore academic ambulatory surgery center (ASC) strategy. They discuss why academic medical centers face unique hurdles as surgical cases shift away from the hospital, including faculty practice dynamics, partnership apprehension and the need to create capacity for higher-acuity care. The conversation also highlights practical keys to success, from purposeful case migration and backfill planning to a more holistic view of margin across the patient journey.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Leading Through AI Transformation

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 Senior Intelligence Director Andrew Rebhan to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the health care workforce. Together, they explore the evolving relationship between human and AI capabilities, from creativity and empathy to judgment, accountability and leadership. The conversation also examines emerging risks, governance considerations and the critical role health care leaders must play in preparing their organizations and teams for an AI-enabled future.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Service Line Success

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Donnelle Jageman and Rachael Zirkelbach to explore what it takes to achieve service line success in today’s rapidly evolving health care environment. The discussion examines how leading health systems are rethinking service line structures, leadership models, strategy, communication and performance measurement to drive growth and improve coordination across the full System of CARE. Tune in for practical insights on balancing enterprise priorities with local market needs.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Network Insights on Access and Capacity

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Rebecca Limestall, Jayme Zage, PhD, and Anthony Guth to debrief insights from a recent Vizient® member network meeting focused on access and capacity. They discuss what health care leaders are prioritizing now, from internal alignment and value-based care to ambulatory strategy, philanthropy and care at home. 

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Field Stories on Health System Change

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Rebecca Limestall and Brian Esser to unpack the growing urgency health systems are facing as financial pressure, payer mix shifts and margin challenges accelerate. Drawing on stories from the field and conversations with health system leaders across the country, they explore why long-term strategy and short-term priorities are often misaligned. The discussion highlights where organizations are making bold moves—and where hesitation remains—across ambulatory growth, service distribution, capital planning, and value-based care.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Freestanding Emergency Departments and Microhospitals as Part of the System of CARE

Host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Ivy Zhu and Tori Richie to explore the evolving role of freestanding EDs, hybrid ED–urgent care models and micro hospitals in health system strategy. Together, they discuss how these sites can improve access, relieve pressure on traditional EDs and support more efficient care delivery—when deployed with clear intent. The conversation also looks ahead to how virtual care, digital transparency, payer pressure and specialty urgent care models may shape the future of emergency and ambulatory access.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Addressing Health Care Access Challenges

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Erika Johnson, Victoria Beal and Vernon Herbener of the Vizient Research Institute to explore the growing access challenges facing health care systems. Drawing on new research, they examine how aging populations and patients with multiple chronic conditions are driving disproportionately high utilization and care fragmentation. Together, they outline why health systems must rethink care models and adopt more coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches to better serve complex patient populations.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

 

Strategy to Sustain Rural Hospitals

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 Associate Principal Trevor DaRin to explore the growing urgency of rural hospital strategy. They discuss mounting financial, workforce and access pressures, along with emerging opportunities tied to funding, partnerships and telehealth-enabled care models. The conversation highlights how health systems can support rural sustainability while optimizing capacity, transfers, and patient outcomes.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Pharmacy Strategy

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Justin Cassidy, PhD, and Brian Esser to explore the evolving role of pharmacy across the health care system. As care shifts toward ambulatory settings, pharmacy is both a critical revenue driver and a strategic lever for growth, innovation and value-based care. The discussion highlights how clinical advancements, consumer demand and employer pressures are reshaping pharmacy strategy across inpatient and outpatient settings.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Integrative Medicine Strategy

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 expert Hailey Mulliner to explore the growing momentum behind integrative medicine. They break down what integrative medicine includes, why consumer demand is accelerating, and how health systems can translate interest into viable strategy. The discussion also highlights evolving care models, competitive pressures from disruptors and the broader definition of ROI—including patient loyalty, new revenue streams and long-term value.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Volume Trends and What’s Next

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Tori Richie and Karyl Kopaskie, PhD, to unpack a notable shift in health care volumes as annual growth stabilizes. Together, they explore the drivers behind softening inpatient growth, recent operational efficiency gains, innovation and evolving payer pressures. The conversation highlights how outpatient migration and changing patient complexity are reshaping strategy, even as overall growth persists.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Structured Communication for Better Execution

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Rebecca Limestall and Janelle Kwan to explore why strategic plans often fail—and how effective communication can change that. They unpack how clear, consistent, and audience-specific messaging drives alignment across stakeholders and sustains momentum through execution. The conversation introduces a practical framework for communication and highlights the critical role of messengers, timing and organizational culture.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

 

Rethinking Health Care Consumerism

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Yelena Bouaziz and Nikita Arora to unpack the evolving reality of health care consumerism. Drawing on new national survey data, they challenge common assumptions and reveal what consumers truly value—long-term relationships, coordinated care and loyalty-driven experiences over transactional convenience. The conversation explores how health systems can rethink strategy, align around a consumer-focused “north star” and design care models that reflect real patient needs.

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.

Medicare Advantage: A Closer Look

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 Intelligence Director Ryota Terada to examine the evolving realities of Medicare Advantage. Moving beyond headlines, they explore new data on utilization, cost and patient mix—highlighting meaningful differences from fee-for-service. The conversation unpacks what these trends mean for health system strategy, operations and financial sustainability

 

We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. You can reach us at sg2perspectives@sg2.com, or visit the Sg2 company page on LinkedIn.