Edge Perspectives

On this episode of Edge Perspectives, host Tori Richie, Associate Principal, sits down with Sushma Narra, Senior Associate, and Brian Esser, VP, Intelligence, to unpack the fourth iteration of the Vizient Economic Index. They reveal why strategy must be local, how labor availability now rivals population growth, and what a flatter, shrinking market map demands of revenue quality, cost control, and capacity—plus one system outperforming a deteriorating market.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

Fresh off the Vizient Executive Strategy Summit, host Tori Richie sits down with Bill Woodson, Sr Principal, and Brianna Motley, VP, Intelligence Strategy and Delivery, to debrief the conversations that defined this year's event. From a pervasive sense of uncertainty and existential threat to a shared bias toward action, the trio unpacks how health systems are rethinking financial foundations, ambulatory strategy, access, partnerships, and the evolving role of AI. They explore what it means for strategy leaders to bridge from planning to execution as the next two years shape the next decade of healthcare. Tune in for tangible takeaways and a forward-looking look at the capabilities health systems will need to thrive.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

Edge Perspectives host Jayme Zage, PhD, sits down with Strategy Intelligence experts Megan LaRose and Jen Goff to discuss the full lifecycle of strategic partnerships in healthcare. They break down what separates intensive strategic partnerships from transactional relationships, how data drives smarter decisions at every phase, and why governance, cultural alignment, and shared KPIs determine long-term success.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Edge Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Strategy Intelligence experts Joshua Aaker, Jenifer Sarno, and Emily Fitt to tackle one of healthcare's most urgent operational challenges: chronic disease management. Drawing on Vizient data and real-world care redesign models, the experts connect effective chronic care strategy directly to capacity, readmissions, and financial performance — and make the case for reframing chronic disease management as the preventive strategy it truly is.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Edge Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Justin Cassidy, PhD, Strategy Intelligence expert at Vizient, to explore how academic medical centers are positioning themselves for strategic growth. Drawing on Vizient's latest forecasting, Justin breaks down the acuity-based volume shifts reshaping AMC strategy — and why capacity management, smart backfill decisions, and access enablement are the critical levers for high-performing systems.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Edge Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Strategy Intelligence experts Janelle Kwan, Associate Principal; Mahaya Walker, Senior Director; and Jen Goff, Intelligence Director, to discuss the latest payment updates shaping healthcare. They explore what's accelerating the shift to alternative payment models, how trends differ across payer segments, and what health systems can do now to prepare for the future of value-based care.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

 

In this episode of Edge Perspectives (that’s right new name, new logo, new brand!), host Trevor DaRin is joined by Strategy Intelligence experts Tori Richie, Associate Principal, and Karyl Kopaskie, PhD, Principal, to unpack the latest Impact of Change® Forecast and the forces shaping healthcare demand over the next decade. Together, they explore the shift from inpatient to ambulatory care, the growing challenges of payer mix deterioration, and how AI, pharmaceutical innovation, and changing patient behaviors are reshaping the future of healthcare delivery.

 

Note to our listeners: Sg2 Perspectives was recently renamed Edge Perspectives. Same great hosts, same great content, expanding to cover data-driven market intelligence, quality and operations insights from health care provider leaders. There is no action needed for you to keep this podcast in your subscriptions and feeds. But you will see a new logo and a new name. We are always excited to get ideas and feedback from our listeners. Contact the hosts with your comments or episode ideas or visit The Leading Edge by Vizient on LinkedIn.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.