Model Design by Kelly Emrick, DHSc, PhD, MBA

How do I Use the Model? To maximize the value of the System of CARE Scorecard, start by selecting the hospital cohort that matches your facility type—Academic Medical Center (AMC), Community Hospital, or All Systems—using the toggle at the top right. This instantly updates all charts and KPIs to reflect the relevant industry benchmarks. Use the sidebar to navigate the three core modules: the Performance Scorecard for a high-level visual assessment of current operational health; the Data Entry tab to override national averages with your hospital’s actual numbers for a direct peer comparison; and the Forecast tab to run strategic simulations. In the Forecast view, adjust the “Time Horizon” and “Demand Intensity” sliders to model how projected 10-year national growth rates (derived from Sg2 Impact of Change® data) affect your facility’s volume baseline over time.

What Does the Data Tell Me? The data reveal a healthcare system facing rising demand pressures and distinct bottlenecks across the care continuum. 1) Access is Critical: There are significant barriers to entry, particularly in Neurology and Cardiology, where median wait times exceed a month, signaling an urgent need to expand outpatient capacity. 2) Operational Variance: The data highlight a clear divergence in efficiency; AMCs manage higher-complexity cases, resulting in longer Emergency Department lengths of stay (4.5 hours) and significantly higher costs per stay compared to Community Hospitals, which maintain faster throughput but lower admission rates. 3) Future Shift: Most critically, the forecast data predict a massive shift away from traditional inpatient care. With Post-Acute Care volumes projected to grow by 31% and E&M (outpatient) visits by 17% over the next decade, compared to only moderate inpatient growth, the data indicate that future strategic investment should prioritize ambulatory access and post-acute partnerships rather than adding inpatient beds.

Data Source: Vizient, Inc. (2026). Data on the Edge: System of CARE Scorecard (January; Q3 V3) [Report].