The nation's healthcare delivery system is changing fast because of retail disruptors like CVS and Optum, and hospitals need to be asking themselves how to stay relevant with patients and leverage new partnerships with emerging players.
By 2030, up to 30 percent of the $260 billion primary care market could be controlled by nontraditional organizations, according to a Feb. 17 report from the American Hospital Association. The report analyzed the next steps for seven healthcare disruptors in 2023: Amazon, CVS, UnitedHealth Group (Optum), Walgreens Boots Alliance, Walmart, Apple and Google.
In the future, change will be driven by innovative value-based care and payment models that increasingly focus on specific populations, more adoption of multidisciplinary care teams, and an increase in alternative sites to receive care.
Hospital leaders should be asking four keys questions about retail disruption this year:
1. Do we offer a seamless experience that provides convenience, access, pricing transparency, and all the information and services that patients today are looking for?
2. How can we encourage existing patients to utilize outpatient, clinic, and virtual care for routine and nonemergency services?
3. Are there opportunities to partner around primary care with Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, Optum or Walmart?
4. Are there opportunities to partner with Apple or Google around research and data sharing to improve our care quality?