A Real Economy publication

Health care industry outlook

June 01, 2026

Key takeaways

In health care, rising capital costs make complexity a decisive factor in investment decisions.

Winning providers govern complexity with value roadmaps aligning mission, capital and care.

Health care providers should use supply chain intelligence to map and anticipate disruptions.

What is the health care industry outlook?

RSM’s health care industry outlook provides insights into the major trends shaping the U.S. health care sector throughout the year. In our latest edition, we explore how rising capital constraints and escalating operational complexity are reshaping decision making for middle market health systems, eroding the traditional divide between clinical priorities and financial performance. We examine how leaders can manage this inflection point—using enterprise value roadmaps, disciplined capital allocation and integrated operating models—to navigate structural workforce shortages, digital transformation, site-of-care shifts and the transition to value‑based care.


TREND: Rising business complexity

For health care organizations, operational complexity is no longer an incidental condition to navigate around. It is becoming the defining variable for shaping where leaders invest, what they standardize and, increasingly, what they divest.


TREND: Supply chain resiliency

As supply chains grow more complex for health care organizations, with deep relationship tiers involving contract manufacturers, distributors and specialized logistical vendors, the probability of disruption rises, too. Historically, this complexity leads to more frequent and longer‑tail interruptions, not fewer, especially as policy and geopolitical dynamics shift.

RSM contributors

  • Michael Haas
    Michael Haas
    Director, Medical Applications Integration
  • Rebekuh  Eley
    Rebekuh Eley
    Health Care Senior Analyst
  • Shelby Burghardt
    Shelby Burghardt
    Health Care Senior Analyst

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