ACADEMIC & HIGHER-ED SPECIFIC TRENDS

Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) face unique pressures as they balance the highest-acuity patients with the mission of teaching.

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Patient Complexity

Hospitalized patients in 2025 were 30% more likely to survive severe illness compared to 2019, but the Case Mix Index (CMI)—a measure of patient complexity—has increased by 5% in the same period, driving up costs per stay.¹

The Age Shift

Adults aged 65+ now exceed 61 million, making them the fastest-growing demographic and the primary driver of high-acuity admissions in AMCs.²

Research vs. Revenue

Administrative waste, overcharging, and fraud account for an estimated 25% of all U.S. healthcare spending, a figure AMCs are targeting through “Zero-Based” budgeting in 2026.³

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¹AHA/Vizient Safety & Quality Report, 2025
²U.S. Census / AHA 2026 Environmental Scan
³Vention State of AI 2026 Report