117 most underappreciated trends in healthcare today - Becker's Hospital Review

Becker's surveyed 117 healthcare C-suite executives from hospitals, health systems, and academic medical centers across the U.S. to identify underappreciated trends that deserve more attention.

The executives highlighted several critical but overlooked areas shaping healthcare's future. Rising healthcare costs driven by inflation, labor expenses, and new therapies are creating unprecedented financial pressures. Meanwhile, workforce challenges extend beyond physician shortages to include burnout, workplace violence, and the need for alternative staffing models as younger generations seek flexibility over traditional career paths.

Key underappreciated trends include:

• Integration of behavioral health services into primary care and specialty settings
• Infrastructure investments needed to support digital transformation and AI implementation
• Focus on health equity through operational changes rather than standalone initiatives
• Shift toward team-based care models and expanded roles for non-physician providers

The insights reveal that while technology and AI dominate healthcare headlines, fundamental issues like workforce sustainability, care integration, and addressing social determinants of health may have greater long-term impact on patient outcomes and system viability.