2025 Healthcare Priorities: Efficiency, Digital Transformation, and Patient-Centric Care
Health system leaders around the globe are setting their sights on key objectives for 2025: driving operational efficiencies, boosting productivity, and enhancing patient engagement. A recent survey conducted by the Deloitte US Center for Health Solutions sheds light on these priorities, revealing the strategies healthcare organizations are employing to navigate the evolving landscape. The survey included 121 C-suite executives from healthcare organizations across Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, providing valuable insights into current industry trends.
More than 70% of the executives surveyed across these five countries indicated that improving operational efficiencies and achieving productivity gains will be top priorities for their organizations this year.
Navigating a Complex Landscape
Healthcare systems face a multitude of challenges; namely, operating under budget constraints, ongoing staff shortages, and clinician burnout. Moreover, these systems are under consistent pressure to implement new technologies while adapting to evolving consumer expectations.
Digital Transformation: A Key Driver
One of the most significant factors expected to influence global health systems in 2025 is the acceleration of digital transformation. Healthcare has been comparatively slow to adopt digital technologies, lagging behind sectors like retail and finance. Many systems still rely on outdated methods, providing opportunities for modernization and efficiency gains. About 70% of survey respondents said investing in technology platforms for digital tools and services will be important for their organizations, as well as investing in core technologies like electronic medical records (EMRs) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
Nearly 90% of the executives surveyed anticipate increased use of digital technologies in 2025, with half expecting a substantial impact. Digital transformation’s influence is expected to be particularly strong outside the U.S., where 52% of non-U.S. respondents anticipate a significant impact on organizational strategies, compared to 30% of U.S. respondents.
Digital transformation is expected to be a key driver for global health systems in 2025.
The Rise of AI and Generative AI
Some healthcare systems that have implemented core technologies are starting to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, predictive analytics, and cloud computing to boost administrative, financial, and clinical efficiencies, as well as staff productivity. Executives say their organizations are either developing use cases or planning to explore generative AI over the next 12 months; 40% of respondents indicated their organizations have realized a significant-to-moderate return on their investments already.
Administrative processes, which are still often manual, could be automated using generative AI and other digital technologies. AI agents could automate tasks like patient referrals, appointment scheduling, and data entry which could reduce costs and boost staff efficiency and productivity.
On the clinical side, AI-powered algorithms are assisting in the analysis of medical imaging. While AI and generative AI offer great potential to improve efficiencies and productivity, concerns about trust and bias in the data used to train these models must be considered when developing a generative AI strategy.
Strategies for Effective Digital Transformation
To maximize the benefits of digital technologies, healthcare systems should consider these strategies:
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Modernize data and core technology infrastructure: High-quality, unbiased data is essential for maximizing digital technology effectiveness. Integration of data from multiple sources is crucial. Key considerations include governance, automation, privacy, and security. This is vital for successful implementation of cloud computing and generative AI.
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Migrate to a cloud environment: The cloud offers substantial computing power, data storage, and security, which supports other digital technologies.
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Reinforce cybersecurity measures: Digital transformation increases the risk of cyberattacks. Enhancing cybersecurity is a top priority. The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks poses a constant challenge.
Addressing Workforce Challenges and Valuing Employees
The healthcare workforce shortage is expected to persist. Executives anticipate external workforce challenges, such as hiring difficulties and talent shortages, and emphasize the need for strategies focused on retention and engagement.
Prioritizing staff well-being and reducing administrative burdens can lead to cost reductions and boost productivity.
Clinician burnout is a significant concern. Health systems, regardless of public or private status, must recognize their workforce as a key asset. Prioritizing employee health and well-being, across all aspects of the organization, can lead to cost reductions by decreasing burnout and increasing retention rates, boosting productivity, and stabilizing expenses related to hiring and onboarding new employees.
Digital tools can streamline tasks, which will provide clinicians with more time to interact directly with patients, potentially reducing burnout. Technology can free up a significant amount of nurses’ time, which, according to Deloitte US research, could equate to hundreds of hours per year for a single nurse.
Strategies for Addressing Workforce Issues
Consider implementing the following strategies to address workforce challenges:
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Use technology to reduce low-value work: By cutting administrative workloads, clinicians can spend more time with patients and their families. Additional efficiencies can be realized by combining technologies with team restructuring and workflow and physical environment improvements.
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Educate staff about new technologies: Investing in education and training can help staff navigate the digital world. Education may also include reassuring employees that new technologies are not intended to eliminate their jobs but to make them more productive and efficient.
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Support the health and well-being of the workforce: Focus on the mental health and overall well-being of staff.
Meeting and Exceeding Patient Expectations
Long wait times for appointments and tests can negatively affect the patient experience. The rise of readily available information is empowering patients to make their own informed medical decisions. In addition, experiences in other sectors, like retail and finance, are impacting patient expectations.
Nearly three-quarters of health system executives cited “improve consumer experience, engagement, and trust” as a priority in 2025. Digital tools and data can assist health systems to improve the patient experience and anticipate adverse health events. Alternative sites of care, such as virtual health and hospital-at-home, can also help meet changing patient expectations. Executives expect the expanded adoption of digital tools, connected care delivery, and virtual health to influence their strategies in 2025.
Meeting Patient Expectations
Health system leaders should consider the following:
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Evaluate alternative sites of care: Virtual health, hospital-at-home, and retail health help systems meet patients where they are, while aiming to exceed consumer expectations.
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Consider digital tools to improve engagement and well-being: The future of healthcare is digital, and systems that embrace this shift will be prepared for the market’s evolution. These tools should assist with the needs of diverse populations, and they should ensure services are accessible to everyone.
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Look for efficiencies: Automation is a key tool for improving workflows and reducing wait times.
Climate and Sustainability
Climate change is exacerbating chronic health conditions and increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases. The healthcare sector contributes to the problem through its substantial greenhouse gas emissions. While the potential for health systems to address climate-related health concerns exists, only a fraction of executives are prioritizing this issue.
Conclusion
Accelerating digital transformation remains a top priority for health systems, driving efficiency by automating manual processes and boosting staff productivity. Despite budget concerns, staff shortages, and the pressure to adopt new technologies, health system leaders are optimistic about their capacity to lower expenses and enhance the patient experience in 2025. They are continuing to evolve to improve and enhance the healthcare delivered to patients.
