Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means for healthcare to be “sustainable.”
Yes, financial sustainability is essential. But just as critical, and often overlooked, is making sure our systems are sustainable for the people who power them. The nurses, physicians, techs, and aides who show up every day. The patients and families who count on us. The communities that trust us to be there, no matter the circumstance.
As a nurse executive, I’ve seen how quickly a system designed to heal can become strained when it’s asked to do too much with too little, for too long. And I’ve come to believe that sustainability isn’t just a financial concept, it’s a people-centered commitment. When we invest in sustaining our people, the financial outcomes follow.
So how do we build a healthcare system that doesn’t just survive the next budget cycle, but thrives for decades to come?
Here are a few thoughts:
Support the People Who Support Everyone Else
The healthcare workforce is weary — not from lack of resilience, but from sustaining extraordinary efforts without lasting support. If we want to retain skilled caregivers and committed leaders, we must go beyond surface-level solutions and invest in the things that truly matter:
- Safer, more balanced staffing models
- Avoiding chronic stretch coverage that strains care teams and compromises outcomes
- Interim leadership solutions to ensure stability during transitions
- Intentional leadership development and succession planning
- Mental health and well-being resources that are accessible, ongoing, and culturally supported
When we support the people at the core of healthcare, we strengthen everything else, including financial performance. Reduced turnover, better outcomes, and higher engagement all drive financial sustainability.
Focus on What Works and Reevaluate What Doesn’t
We can’t be everything to everyone in every setting. Long-term sustainability means being more strategic and more honest about how and where care is delivered.
- Expand access to preventive and community-based care
- Embrace virtual and in-home care models where they serve patients best
- Prioritize value over volume, even when it challenges existing norms
By focusing our resources on high-impact, meaningful care, we not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce unnecessary costs and inefficiencies. Smarter care delivery leads to a stronger financial footing.
Use Technology as a Tool Not a Burden
Technology should support care, not complicate it. When implemented wisely, it can reduce burnout, streamline workflows, and improve outcomes.
- Let automation and AI handle repetitive tasks and reduce friction
- Ensure EHRs enhance — not hinder — clinical thinking
- Use digital tools to create more space for meaningful human connection
If we let technology amplify the best parts of care, we’ll reduce waste, improve satisfaction, and ultimately create a more financially viable system.
Lead with the Future in Mind
Sustainability calls for bold, thoughtful leadership. Leaders who communicate clearly, make difficult choices with compassion, and keep people at the center of every decision.
We need to shift from asking people to be endlessly resilient to building systems that are responsibly led and thoughtfully designed. It’s time to stop relying on short-term fixes and start shaping a model of care that works for the long term — for patients, for providers, and for financial health.
A Final Thought
Sustainability isn’t just a spreadsheet outcome, it’s a mindset. One that values people as the most essential investment we can make. Because when we sustain our people, we sustain the quality of care. And when care is high-quality, efficient, and trusted, financial sustainability follows.
If we want healthcare to be strong tomorrow, we need to lead like it matters today.
