Sg2 Blog

As part of Vizient/Sg2’s value-based care (VBC) and payer-provider alignment analysis and market research, we review the quarterly earnings calls from a subset of publicly traded legacy payers and VBC-focused entrants. The summary is designed to highlight emerging trends and dynamics in these closely related industries, especially as they tie to VBC. The following post draws from recently re...

Eric Spann, MD, is a family medicine physician at Baxter Health, based in Mountain View, Arkansas. Q: Dr. Spann, how do you envision AI impacting your day-to-day work, your patient interactions and what defines good medicine? A: If we thought that addressing “Dr. Google” was a big part of our daily work, this is going to be Dr. Google on steroids. Patients are now going to have a large...

The rules of engagement with health systems are changing—and industry partners clinging to the old playbook risk being left behind. At Sg2's 2025 Executive Summit, a clear message emerged: assumptions that once guided strategy are not just outdated—they’re obstructive. Financial recovery doesn’t mean business as usual, and hospitals shouldn't be the center of care anymore. ...

Providers are being asked to take on more financial risk by payers, moving from fee-for-service to value-based care payment models across all lines of business. Following Medicare’s goal of having 100% of traditional Medicare beneficiaries in an accountable care relationship by 2030, other payers such as Medicare Advantage, commercial and Medicaid plans are also placing responsibility on pro...

CV advanced imaging is projected to grow 33% over the next decade. Significant progress has been made in coronary CT angiography (CCTA), cardiac PET, MRI, optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound. Yet adoption of advanced imaging in CV service lines remains slow. The American Heart Association meeting held in November 2024 highlighted these modalities, emphasizing their critical...

Health systems are performing more percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures than ever on older adults. And while patients over age 65 now undergo more than half of all PCIs, they account for a staggering 80% of all PCI deaths. This stark reality makes it imperative that CV service line leaders revisit approaches to risk stratifying PCI patients, defining procedural success and supportin...

AI tools are beginning to play a key role in scaling the behavioral health workforce. At Sg2, we believe the most impactful solutions are those that supplement—not replace—clinical judgment, especially in high-need areas like triage, intake and early intervention. AI can extend care teams by managing low-acuity interactions and flagging patients who need a higher level of support. Effo...

Exploit vs explore: balancing focus on legacy business model while evolving in a dynamic environment. Business leaders across industries can appreciate the importance of balancing exploration of new opportunities with optimizing the existing business model. Strategists have termed this the “explore vs exploit” paradigm. Health systems, like all businesses, must balance their traditiona...

The ongoing exercise of patching workforce holes via recruitment and the digitization of select tasks and job functions has produced returns that are not only inadequate for long-term survival but also diminishing with each passing year. This perpetual cycle has only exacerbated the root problem: outdated workforce models. To truly move the needle on workforce transformation, organizations must e...

Jerry Vuchak is the chief information and innovation officer of Children’s Nebraska, based in Omaha, Nebraska. Q: Tell us about your background and how you arrived at your current position? A: My journey in health care started in 1991 and my background prior to Children’s Nebraska has primarily been working in large adult academic medical centers. I was at Houston Methodist for 15 year...