Key to Health System Success: An Entrepreneurial Mindset

One top takeaway from a recent conference focused on the need for health systems—not just startups—to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. “The path to growth will be a roller coaster. Stay the course,” panelists encouraged. Yet for many health system leaders, making the move to a more modern approach to risk-taking puts them in unfamiliar territory.  Leaders need to embrace risk in terms of how their organizations provide high-quality care to their patients. As health systems navigate resource constraints and cost challenges in a turbulent environment, adopting an entrepreneurial mindset positions leaders to embrace new opportunities for growth. Some health systems create their own venture capital funds to diversify revenue streams, reduce operational costs or even advance health equity as part of their mission. By incorporating elements of risk that complement a health system’s vision, healthcare leaders can drive a sustainable growth strategy that benefits patients and staff and better positions the organization for the future.