Edge Perspectives

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 Associate Principal Trevor DaRin to explore the growing urgency of rural hospital strategy. They discuss mounting financial, workforce and access pressures, along with emerging opportunities tied to funding, partnerships and telehealth-enabled care models. The conversation highlights how health systems can support rural su...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Justin Cassidy, PhD, and Brian Esser to explore the evolving role of pharmacy across the health care system. As care shifts toward ambulatory settings, pharmacy is both a critical revenue driver and a strategic lever for growth, innovation and value-based care. The discussion highlights how clinical advancements, consum...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 expert Hailey Mulliner to explore the growing momentum behind integrative medicine. They break down what integrative medicine includes, why consumer demand is accelerating, and how health systems can translate interest into viable strategy. The discussion also highlights evolving care models, competitive pressures from disrupto...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Tori Richie and Karyl Kopaskie, PhD, to unpack a notable shift in health care volumes as annual growth stabilizes. Together, they explore the drivers behind softening inpatient growth, recent operational efficiency gains, innovation and evolving payer pressures. The conversation highlights how outpatient migration and c...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Rebecca Limestall and Janelle Kwan to explore why strategic plans often fail—and how effective communication can change that. They unpack how clear, consistent, and audience-specific messaging drives alignment across stakeholders and sustains momentum through execution. The conversation introduces a practical framework...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Yelena Bouaziz and Nikita Arora to unpack the evolving reality of health care consumerism. Drawing on new national survey data, they challenge common assumptions and reveal what consumers truly value—long-term relationships, coordinated care and loyalty-driven experiences over transactional convenience. The conversation...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 Intelligence Director Ryota Terada to examine the evolving realities of Medicare Advantage. Moving beyond headlines, they explore new data on utilization, cost and patient mix—highlighting meaningful differences from fee-for-service. The conversation unpacks what these trends mean for health system strategy, operations and fin...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how patients search for, access and navigate care. Host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 Senior Director Andrew Rebhan to explore the rise of the “AI care broker” and what it could mean for health care’s digital front door. From OpenAI and Anthropic to payers and disrupters, they unpack how AI intermediaries may increasingly steer patient decisions—of...

Sg2’s Three Years Forward webinar highlights the forces set to shape health care strategy through 2026. Host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts William Woodson, Chad Giese and Brian Esser to examine mounting financial pressures, shifting site-of-care dynamics and widening economic divergence across markets. Together, they explore what system optimization, ambulatory and post-acute growth and em...

In this episode, we unpack new pediatric research from the Vizient® Clinical Data Base (CDB) with Sg2 Associate Principal Rhae Ana Gamber and Vizient’s Research, Analytics and Insights team—Lead Hannah Murphy, PhD, and Associate Principal Alyssa Harris. From rising ICU utilization and RSV surges to firearm injury, diabetes and mental health, the team explores how clinical complexity and community...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 Senior Director Joshua Aaker, PhD, to explore how health systems can tackle rising cardiovascular (CV) demand amid growing capacity constraints—especially in the cath lab. As transcatheter valve procedures expand and outpatient volumes surge, cath labs are becoming a critical bottleneck for growth and performance. Jayme an...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Sg2 experts Catherine Maji and Jodi Eisenberg to unpack new research on the relationship between quality and health system resilience. The conversation explores why quality is no longer just table stakes—but a strategic lever tied to financial performance, workforce stability, and long-term sustainability. From executive leader...

Pain management touches nearly every patient and every site of care, yet most health systems still struggle to define it as a cohesive strategy. In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Justin Cassidy, PhD, Donnelle Jageman and Kate Zentner to explore why pain is a critical front door to health care services. The conversation examines new non-opioid innovatio...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 Senior Principal Bill Woodson to explore the “tailwinds” shaping health care in 2026. From financial stability and operational discipline to bold transformation strategies, Bill shares reasons for measured optimism across the industry. The conversation covers workforce innovation, ambient scribing, artificial intelligence (AI)...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Tori Richie and Karyl Kopaskie, PhD, to unpack the 2026 Insurance Coverage Forecast and major shifts expected across Medicaid, the ACA exchanges, commercial coverage and Medicare Advantage. They also discuss how this data informs Sg2’s Impact of Change® forecast and supports scenario planning for demand and utilization...

This episode continues The Wider View, an Sg2 Perspectives podcast series focused on topics that are important to all types of organizations across health care. Host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Vizient Spend Management leaders Brooke Beltran and Allen Passarello, as well as Sg2 Senior Director Anthony Guth, to explore the operational, financial and supply chain considerations that are essential...

As health systems step into 2026, many are reassessing priorities and building on the lessons learned in 2025. In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 expert Rebecca Limestall to reflect on last year’s strategic surprises and preview what’s ahead. They discuss policy pressure points, shifting definitions of systemness, and the renewed focus on long-term financial an...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Karyl Kopaskie, PhD, and Danni Park to unpack the art and science behind Sg2’s 10-year demand forecast, the Impact of Change®. They explore the expert-driven process, how the forecast has evolved over 25 years, and the “why” behind the numbers that help members make strategic decisions. Using real-world examples—from p...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, guest host Kara Marlatt, PhD, joins host Jayme Zage, PhD, for a timely discussion on how demographic shifts, rising demand, and capacity constraints are reshaping clinical service lines. Sg2 experts Setu Shah, Chad Giese, Dionne Dela Cruz, and Rachael Zirkelbach also join the conversation to share how organizations are rethinking care delivery across cardiovasc...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Sg2 experts Emily Fitt and Rhae Ana Gamber to discuss evolving diabetes care trends through both clinical and strategic lens. They explore key differences in managing pediatric vs adult populations and type 1 vs type 2 diabetes, along with emerging innovations such as GLP-1 medications, continuous glucose monitors and automated...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD, is joined by Sg2 experts Jen Goff, Emily Fitt, Kara Marlatt, PhD, Donnelle Jageman and Kate Zentner to explore the most impactful clinical innovations reshaping care delivery and how health care organizations are adapting in real time. From GLP-1s and AI-driven behavioral health tools to site of care shifts and interdisciplinary care model...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 expert Mahaya Walker to unpack surprising insights from a recent Strategy Exchange focused on the evolving role of strategy teams in physician alignment. They explore why strategy leaders are often underutilized in alignment efforts, how generational shifts are shaping physician employment models, and where gaps exist between...

As workforce shortages persist, health systems must think beyond traditional staffing models. This week on Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin and Sg2 expert Janelle Kwan discuss the Human + Workforce: an emerging model where people and technology collaborate to meet care demands more efficiently. They explore real-world applications in specialties like endocrinology and colorectal cancer, address...

In this Sg2 Perspectives episode, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 experts Sushma Narra and Ryota Terada to unpack the newly released Sg2 Economic Index 3.0. They explore what’s new in the latest version, how it enables more granular, forward-looking market analysis, and how health systems and industry partners are using it to guide strategic decisions. From market-specific insights to climate r...

Precision medicine is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s shaping care today. Sg2 experts Justin Cassidy, PhD, Kara Marlatt, PhD, and Andrew Rebhan join host Trevor DaRin to explore how data, artificial intelligence (AI) and genetics are transforming treatment from “one size fits all” to personalized care. They discuss where health systems are leading, where challenges remain and how organizations...