Scout Strategy National Leader Lawrence Hanrahan discussed academic medical center (AMC) myths, technology enablers, and implications for the built environment during Page's 2023 Health Forward Symposium. Critics say AMCs are “dinosaurs whose lifetimes are limited because they can’t compete financially with smaller, private hospitals,” Lawrence said, adding, “I don’t agree.”
Instead, Lawrence believes AMCs will continue to be the main educational facilities for all the new medical schools that need somewhere to train their students and care for the most complicated patients.
Healthcare can’t be viewed as purely a profit-driven enterprise, he cautioned. Factors such as public health, clinical trials, and the long-term benefits of preventive care factor into the calculations. Artificial intelligence and evolving technologies seem poised to revolutionize the field. “Data is the new oil,” he said, “a raw material we will harvest and analyze for the benefit of our patients and monetize to ensure financial sustainability. Big data will drive the next paradigm shift in clinical discovery and health economics.”