The Future of Healthcare Innovation: How Organizations Can Improve Outcomes and Cut Costs

Healthcare organizations are under tremendous pressure. Costs are rising, patient expectations are changing, and regulatory requirements continue to grow more complex. In this environment, healthcare innovation consulting is no longer optional—it’s essential. The future of healthcare will be defined by organizations that can balance improved patient outcomes with sustainable cost management, all while building systems that are resilient and adaptable.

At Timshel Tarbet Consulting, we’ve seen firsthand how innovative strategies can help healthcare systems achieve measurable results. From safeguarding multi-million-dollar risks to improving patient satisfaction scores, innovation done right creates both immediate and long-term value.

Why Healthcare Innovation Matters Now

The challenges facing healthcare organizations today are unprecedented:

• Escalating costs: Operational and administrative costs strain budgets.

• Evolving patient expectations: Patients demand faster, more personalized care experiences.

• Workforce challenges: Staffing shortages put pressure on both quality and efficiency.

• Regulatory changes: CMS star ratings and compliance requirements directly impact reimbursement and reputation.

Innovation isn’t about adding more complexity. It’s about finding smarter, leaner, and more human-centered ways of delivering care.

Innovation That Improves Outcomes

When healthcare organizations embrace innovation strategically, they can:

1. Redesign Patient Experience

   • Gathering patient feedback directly to identify areas for improvement.

   • Streamlining processes that cause frustration (e.g., reducing prior authorization requirements).

   • Enhancing communication through digital platforms, translation services, and multi-lingual outreach.

   Example: At Providence Health Plan, leadership galvanized 1,500+ employees to address patient experience challenges, setting the organization on a path to regain its CMS 5-star rating.

   
   

2. Leverage Data for Smarter Decisions

   • Using analytics to identify care gaps, reduce readmissions, and predict risk.

   • Tracking patient outcomes across populations to ensure equity in care delivery.

   Example: By overhauling a legacy risk adjustment model, Providence safeguarded ~$83M annually and created a roadmap for more accurate population health management.

   
   

3. Strengthen Care Equity: While DEI may not be the headline term today, healthcare equity remains central to innovation. Ensuring patients of all backgrounds have equal access to care and clear communication reduces long-term costs by preventing avoidable complications.

Innovation That Reduces Costs

Healthcare innovation is not just about better care—it’s about smarter resource management.

• Operational Efficiencies – Reducing redundancies, streamlining workflows, and improving vendor accountability.

• Risk Management – Identifying financial and compliance risks early to prevent revenue loss.

• Workforce Optimization – Building HR strategies that support recruitment, retention, and sustainable staffing models.

Example: At SCAN Health Plan, innovative workforce and outreach strategies supported +17% membership growth (~40,000 new members), expanding impact while ensuring financial sustainability.

The Role of Leadership in Driving Innovation

Innovation doesn’t happen in silos. It requires leadership that can align:

• Vision – Clear, measurable goals tied to mission.

• People – Engaged employees who understand their role in transformation.

• Systems – Tools and processes that reinforce efficiency and accountability.

This is where organizational transformation consulting intersects with healthcare innovation: by ensuring that strategy, people, and processes are all aligned.

How to Begin Your Healthcare Innovation Journey

If your organization is ready to pursue innovation but isn’t sure where to start, consider these steps:

1. Assess Your Current State – Where are costs escalating? Where are patients dissatisfied?

2. Define Measurable Goals – Tie innovation to specific outcomes: improved star ratings, reduced readmissions, higher employee retention.

3. Engage Your Workforce – Involve frontline staff in identifying pain points and building solutions.

4. Prioritize Equity and Access – Make sure solutions are accessible to all patient populations.

5. Build a Long-Term Roadmap – Innovation is not a project; it’s a continuous process of improvement.

Why Work With Timshel Tarbet Consulting

With decades of executive leadership experience—including roles at Providence Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, and Cambia Health Solutions—and a foundation of discipline and accountability from her U.S. Air Force service, Timshel brings unique expertise in healthcare innovation, organizational transformation, HR, and enterprise risk management.

Our firm doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all answers. We work with mission-driven organizations to design solutions that are practical, measurable, and sustainable.

Is your organization ready to embrace innovation? Let’s create strategies that improve outcomes, reduce costs, and build a healthcare system designed for the future.

Schedule a Consultation today or join our newsletter to receive insights, case studies, and strategies directly in your inbox.

📬 Stay informed. Stay innovative. Stay ahead.