Health systems are rethinking care delivery as patients come to expect convenience and affordability, according to a report from the Center for Connected Medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Klas Research.
“Moving Outside the Hospital: Ambulatory Care Strategies at Leading Health Systems,” published, Oct.6, is based on phone interviews with 25 leaders from midsize and large integrated health systems across the U.S. conducted in May and June 2025.
Respondents — most of whom were C-suite or senior executives — shared how their organizations are reorganizing and investing to expand outpatient care.
Findings showed that health systems are centralizing leadership and investing in outpatient, virtual and home-based care models to meet growing demand, workforce constraints and financial pressures. Most said their ambulatory strategies are now guided by leaders with systemwide visibility and authority, reflecting the growing role of outpatient care in overall health system operations.
Health systems are also prioritizing high-demand service lines — including primary care, cardiology, orthopedics and oncology — through multispecialty clinics, ASCs and virtual platforms. These moves are designed to expand access in high-growth or underserved markets while easing pressure on inpatient facilities.
Partnerships are also emerging as a core strategy.
Health systems are increasingly collaborating with independent physician groups, technology companies and urgent care networks to extend their reach and capabilities.
For example, UPMC’s Community and Ambulatory Services division partnered with Atlanta-based GoHealth Urgent Care to operate more than 80 centers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, expanding access.
Ambulatory, virtual and home-based care are no longer supplemental — they are becoming core components of health systems’ strategies to improve efficiency, access and patient satisfaction.
