Edge Perspectives

Uncertainty is the new normal in health care, but strategic leaders don’t have to guess what’s ahead. In this episode, Sg2 experts Janelle Kwan and Anthony Guth join host Jayme Zage, PhD, to explore environmental scenario planning—a strategic approach that helps health systems proactively prepare for a range of external futures. They introduce the EDICT framework (External, Distinct, Impactful, Cr...

Behavioral health patients continue to face long emergency department (ED) stays and access challenges—particularly those with government insurance. In this episode, Sg2 expert Jen Goff joins host Jayme Zage, PhD to explore how ED utilization trends are evolving and to highlight innovative crisis care models gaining traction across the country. From mobile response teams to empath units, learn how...

As health systems face increasing pressure to improve access and efficiency, orthopedic urgent care is an emerging focus area. In this Sg2 Perspectives episode, Sg2 experts Donnelle Jageman and Megan LaRose join host Tori Richie to explore how health systems are leveraging walk-in ortho clinics to reduce ED burden, drive downstream revenue, and capture new patients. They share real-world insights...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is climbing the priority list for health systems, driven by rising prevalence, an aging population and new therapeutic innovations. In this episode, Sg2 expert Emily Fitt joins host Trevor DaRin to explore why COPD demands renewed focus, highlight successful care models—from academic medical centers to rural programs—and discuss the role of specialty ph...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sg2 Senior Director Andrew Rebhan to share insights from his ongoing Q&A blog series with digital health leaders across the US. Together, they explore how health systems are approaching disciplined innovation, aligning IT and operations, and weighing real opportunities against hype in the AI era. Andrew also highlights surpris...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Anthony Guth and Rachael Zirkelbach to explore the Sg2 System of CARE™, one of the impact factors of the 2025 Impact of Change® forecast. Together, they discuss how partnerships across the continuum—post-acute, home and ambulatory—enable smarter growth, throughput, and better care coordination.   Sg2 Perspectives Listen...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Setu Shah, Kara Marlatt, PhD and Gurmeet Bawa to explore the Innovation and Technology Impact Factor from the 2025 Impact of Change® forecast. The conversation spans transformative advancements in spine, cancer, and dementia care, including the role of AI, gene therapy, and mobile imaging in shifting care closer to home...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Rhae Ana Gamber and Dionne Dela Cruz to explore key insights from the 2025 Impact of Change® forecast for pediatric care. They discuss the shift of pediatric volumes from community hospitals to children’s hospitals, the growing demand for behavioral health services, and capacity constraints driven by innovation and work...

In this Sg2 Perspectives episode, Sg2 experts Brianna Motley and Bill Woodson join host Tori Richie to unpack key insights from the 2025 Sg2 Summit, where health care leaders explored the future of strategy, systemness, consumerism and innovation. The conversation covers rebuilding trust, integrating AI, personalizing care and shifting system priorities. Whether you attended the Summit or are catc...

Chronic disease and behavioral health remain major drivers of demand across the health care system, as highlighted in our 2025 Impact of Change® forecast. This week, host Tori Richie talks with Sg2 service line experts Emily Fitt and Jen Goff about rising prevalence, shifting patient expectations and how societal stressors are reshaping demand. They also discuss care model innovation, behavioral h...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Dr Pam Duncan from Wake Forest Atrium Health joins Sg2 neurosciences expert Katherine Zentner and host Trevor DaRin to discuss how stroke care is evolving beyond the hospital stay. A leader in post-acute stroke recovery, Dr Duncan shares how her digitally enabled solution, Stroke CP, supports scalable, personalized care. They explore how transitional care, work...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Tori Richie is joined by Sg2 experts Joshua Aaker and Katherine Zentner to explore how demographic shifts, particularly an aging population, are shaping cardiovascular and neurosciences service line demand. Drawing on insights from the 2025 Impact of Change® forecast, the discussion highlights care stratification, team-based models, and new approaches to p...

Congress recently passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), reshaping Medicaid eligibility, financing, and rural health care transformation. In this Sg2 Perspectives episode, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Vizient advocacy experts Darren Webb and Alexandria Icenhower, along with Sg2’s Ryota Terada, to decode OBBA’s key provisions—from new work requirements and payment changes to rural funding...

How will Amazon-style convenience and a shaky economy reshape physical therapy, orthopedics and post-acute care? Host Tori Richie talks with Sg2 experts Donnelle Jageman and Nikita Arora about the “Economy & Consumerism” impact factor from this year’s Impact of Change® Forecast. The trio unpacks the surge in at-home and direct-to-consumer PT/OT, the growing clout of price-sensitive patients, a...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD speaks with leaders from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Katherine Helbig, MS, LCGC, AVP of Research Strategy and Accelerator Programs, and Dan Fields, JD, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer, about the evolving landscape of cell and gene therapy. They share compelling patient stories and outline the operational and strategic infrastr...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Sg2 Principals Rebecca Limestall and Brian Esser to explore what true differentiation means in today’s health care landscape. They dig into why many health systems struggle to stand out and how focusing on micro-level strategies, stakeholder priorities, and market dynamics can create sustainable competitive advantages. From rural ac...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Sg2 experts Rachael Zirkelbach and Nikita Arora to explore the evolving dynamics of post-acute care and care-at-home strategies. From bifurcated health system readiness to workforce challenges and the surge in AI-enabled home care, the conversation dives deep into how organizations are navigating capacity constraints, policy sh...

Sg2 Senior Directors Tori Richie and Tony Guth join host Trevor DaRin to explore the “ambulatory first” mindset—where care delivery is driven by outpatient strategies rather than hospital-centric models. They unpack why legacy health systems have struggled to make meaningful progress, how rethinking organizational structures and capital allocation can help, and the initial steps that signal real t...

Sg2 Perspectives host Trevor DaRin is joined by colleagues Brian Esser and Ryota Terada for an in-depth discussion on physician alignment—a topic that remains as essential as ever in today’s health system landscape. The group dives into the evolution of alignment strategies, examining why employment has become the default model, what opportunities still exist within clinically integrated networks...

In one of the most highly anticipated Sg2 Perspectives episodes of the year, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Tori Richie and Danni Park, the lead architects behind Sg2’s Impact of Change® Forecast. Together, they unpack the major themes and debates that shaped this year’s forecast spanning population shifts, policy uncertainties, breakthrough innovations, and evolving care models. From the aging po...

In this episode of Sg2 Perspectives, host Jayme Zage, PhD is joined by Andrew Rebhan, Sg2’s digital health expert to explore whether innovation in digital health still exists beyond the dominant AI narrative. They discuss the current state and future of virtual care, the role of asynchronous monitoring, the resurgence of interest in ambient documentation, and how AI is reshaping data management in...

In this episode, host Trevor DaRin is joined by Sam Fredin, Vizient’s Director of AI Strategy & Technology and Andrew Rebhan, Sg2’s digital health expert, to explore the current state of AI adoption across industries, with a focus on health care. Together, they unpack what’s hype vs. reality, how organizations are experimenting with AI tools, and why the most immediate impact may not be financ...

Host Jayme Zage, PhD, kicks off The Wider View, an Sg2 Perspectives Podcast series focused on topics that are important to all types of organizations in the health care landscape.  This episode explores strategic collaborations between health systems and their industry partners. Joined by Caroline Brown of CDB Strategy and Sg2’s Karl Karlsson, PhD, the conversation goes beyond transactional relati...

Our host Tori Richie is joined by cardiovascular service line expert Josh Aaker, PhD to unpack the data and dynamics behind the growing pressure on heart care services. From rising inpatient volumes to workforce shortages, Josh shares strategic insights on managing capacity constraints, improving procedural efficiency, and preparing for the aging patient population.   We are always excited to get...

Our host Trevor DaRin is joined by Dr. Erick Macias and Matt Mindrup from SSM Health in St. Louis to explore the groundbreaking Behavioral Health Urgent Care model. Learn how this innovative care delivery approach is transforming mental health access by providing same-day, walk-in support for individuals in crisis—without the barriers of insurance or long waits. From patient stories to system-leve...