Transformation in healthcare

The global healthcare system is fundamentally changing

Advances in technology, new entrants from outside the industry and changing consumer expectations are driving a global shift in the healthcare landscape. At the same time, chronic diseases, social determinants and resource limitations continue to add pressure. These powerful forces are pushing traditional models of care delivery. 

Healthcare companies face a choice: transform to be part of the future or risk being left behind.

Four building blocks of a healthcare transformation

At PwC, we’ve identified building blocks essential to successful transformation. They aren’t specific steps, stages or organisational designs. Rather, they are ways of thinking about influence and change: perspectives on how to shift organisational and individual behaviour in a more productive, competitive and engaging direction.

Create a strategic identity

Articulate a single desirable future for your enterprise and focus all your efforts on achieving it. Making such leaps in identity and purpose will require:

• Collaboration and socialisation with stakeholders to ensure buy-in
• Consistent messaging across the organisation
• Careful, consumer-centric rollout incorporating feedback and adjusting to it

Design for trust

Trust is paramount in healthcare — from protecting privacy and data to building confidence in providers and protocols. And building trust is critical as new entrants and modes of care are introduced. The basis for building trust in healthcare must include:

• Transparency
• Personalisation
• Evidence-based outcomes

Master the pivot from sprint to scale

Becoming the healthcare company of tomorrow requires innovation and experimentation.  Creating an environment to think big, start small and learn fast will enable companies to first try, then scale new ideas.

Enablers can include:

• Targeting use cases to solve key problems
• Starting with a digital-first, consumer-centric mindset
• Embracing open ideation and crowdsourcing
• Incorporating key partners to test new ways of working
• Using technology to model solutions

Treat your legacy as an asset

Successful transformation requires a balance between leveraging core strengths and embracing bold new strategies.  Healthcare companies that build off their strengths and establish partnerships to supplement their expertise are best positioned to succeed.

When selecting partners, seek the following characteristics:

• A long-term commitment to change
• Value-adding innovation