Northwell Health's New CEO Outlines Strategy Amid Healthcare Challenges

Northwell Health, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the United States, is embarking on a new era under the leadership of John D'Angelo, M.D., who assumed the role of CEO on October 1. In an exclusive interview, D'Angelo outlined his vision for navigating the complex healthcare landscape, emphasizing growth, technology integration, and community health initiatives.

Merger Integration and Expansion

D'Angelo's immediate focus is on the integration of Nuvance Health, following the largest merger in Northwell's history. The combined entity now operates 28 hospitals, marking Northwell's first expansion into acute hospital care outside of New York State.

"We have 30 to 40 different work groups working with folks from both sides of Nuvance and Northwell, in a really systematic approach to integration of the organization," D'Angelo explained. He stressed that the merger is a long-term process, with aligned organizational cultures facilitating the integration.

Financial Strategy in Challenging Times

Despite industry-wide financial pressures, Northwell remains profitable. D'Angelo attributes this to operational discipline and a multi-faceted approach:

1. Leveraging size and scale for efficiencies
2. Pursuing aggressive growth in high-value clinical programs
3. Developing alternative revenue streams through ventures and holdings

"We believe our aggressive growth mentality helps us with that, especially in areas that we know are going to be accretive and support the organization," D'Angelo stated. He highlighted Northwell's rapidly expanding transplant program and investments in healthcare startups as examples of this strategy.

Technology and Workforce Optimization

In contrast to some peers implementing layoffs, Northwell is focusing on technology to enhance workforce capabilities. D'Angelo envisions using technology to "amplify the capabilities of the workforce" rather than replace employees.

"We may be hiring less and less long term because our workforce can achieve more. I think that's ultimately the goal," he explained. This approach aligns with Northwell's continuous growth model, which has allowed the organization to avoid mass layoffs by redeploying staff to new opportunities.

Community Health and Social Responsibility

D'Angelo affirmed Northwell's commitment to addressing broader social and community issues, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, Michael Dowling. The organization remains engaged in initiatives addressing gun violence, housing insecurity, and racial equity.

"We all agree that if we're truly going to impact overall health, we can't stay on the sidelines as it relates to a lot of these topics," D'Angelo emphasized. He noted that Northwell's approach is rooted in health impact rather than political positioning.

As healthcare faces uncertain times, with potential Medicaid cuts and changes to ACA premiums, D'Angelo expressed concern about the long-term health impacts of delayed care. However, he reaffirmed Northwell's commitment to providing care regardless of reimbursement challenges.

"We do a lot in the community today that we're not reimbursed for, and the intention of that is to keep people healthy. Again, that's not going to change," he stated, underscoring Northwell's dedication to its core mission of improving community health.