Becker's Hospital Review

9 CFO / FINANCE Novant Health unveils restructured leadership model By Madeline Ashley C harlotte, N.C.-based Novant Health has restructured its leadership operating model with the intention of improving care across the communities it serves. Here are three things to know: 1. Under the new leadership model, acute and ambulatory operating units will be established to drive performance and growth while also formalizing a regional structure, which includes the Charlotte, Coastal, South Carolina and Triad regions, with additional regions to be named as Novant Health expands. Each region will be led by a president to focus on patient-centered care, according to a Feb. 18 health system news release shared with Becker's. e restructured model adds two senior vice presidents to improve nursing, clinical services and integrated care solutions such as pharmacy and home health to amplify nursing voices. e two leaders will work to enhance care and align clinical, strategy and operations across Novant's regions. 2. Novant Health Enterprises, the system's business division that launched in 2022, will play a larger role in driving clinical, operational, and technological advancements for the system. e new operating model also includes benefits like team collaborations for unified goals, developing new affiliations with other care providers, new growth flexibility, and continued investment in employees. 3. Under the new model, many leaders have new or expanded roles: • John Gizdic, executive vice president and COO, will lead acute care, integrated care solutions and nursing and clinical services across the Triad and Coastal North Carolina regions. • Dean Swindle, executive vice president, chief strategy officer and president of Novant Health Enterprises, will lead ambulatory care, integrated value-based care model, strategy, physician enterprise and Novant Health Enterprises, along with the Charlotte and South Carolina regions, including additional growth regions. • Saad Ehtisham is now senior vice president and president of acute operations. A new senior vice president and president of ambulatory operations will be recruited by Novant Health. • Sid Fletcher, MD, Ernie Bovio and Jason Bernd were appointed as senior vice president and president of the Charlotte, Coastal and South Carolina regions, respectively. A Triad Region senior vice president and president will be recruited. • Bill Schiff was named chief payer officer for Novant Health and senior vice president and COO of Novant Health Enterprises Management Service. • Michael Vaccaro, DNP, RN, will expand his role as senior vice president, nursing and clinical services. • Becky Bean, PharmD, will expand her role as senior vice president of integrated care solutions. • Alisha Hutchens was named president of Winston-Salem, N.C.- based Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem- based Novant Health Medical Park Hospital and Triad Region acute care operations. • Laurie Whalin, PharmD, took on the role as president of Wilmington, N.C.-based Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Coastal Region acute care operations. n Healthcare CFOs' 2025 outlook: 5 takeaways By Andrew Cass A bout half of healthcare CFOs expect increased profitability this year, according to the 2025 BDO Healthcare CFO Outlook Survey. The report surveyed 100 CFOs from organizations with revenues ranging from $250 million to $3 billion or more. The CFOs represented an even split of hospitals/health systems, academic medical centers, physician groups, outpatient/ASC, and long-term/post-acute or homecare organizations. The survey was conducted in November 2024 by Rabin Roberts Research Company, an independent marketing research firm, using Slice MR's panel of executives. Five things to know: 1. Seventy-two percent of CFOs expect revenue to increase in 2025, and 48% expect profitability to increase. Eighty- four percent of respondents reported increased revenue in 2024, and 43% reported increased profitability. 2. All respondents said they plan to invest in artificial intelligence in 2025, and 84% expect to invest as much or more than they did in 2024. Of those surveyed, 81% said AI is a "moderate or significant concern" for their leadership team. Fifty-seven percent said they plan to increase their involvement in strategic conversations around digital transformation and AI in 2025. 3. Forty-five percent of CFOs said they plan to increase cybersecurity spending in 2025, and 37% said they feel "very prepared" to handle a ransomware incident. 4. Fifty-seven percent said they plan to pursue a transaction or partnership in 2025, with 41% planning an enterprise sale to a strategic buyer/competitor; 32% planning a restructuring or reorganization; 28% planning a joint venture or alliance; and 27% planning a carve-out or divestiture. 5. Thirty-seven percent said they plan to increase hiring in 2025, up from 25% in 2024. n

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