‘The Workforce Shortage Looms Larger And Larger’: Sinai Health System CEO Karen Teitelbaum At Bisnow’s Healthcare Midwest

Technology continues to transform patient care in the U.S. Meanwhile, healthcare administrators struggle to keep costs down in the face of physician shortages. How can the industry maintain high-quality accessible care? How can hospital systems retain top talent? These are some of the topics that the biggest names in healthcare will be discussing at Bisnow’s National Midwest Healthcare Summit on Sep. 24. Register here for the event. 

By 2030, the U.S. could be short 120,000 physicians. Karen Teitelbaum considers the looming talent crisis to be the greatest challenge facing the healthcare industry.

As president and CEO of Sinai Health System, Teitelbaum knows the staffing struggles administrators are facing and the importance of finding cost-effective ways to deliver quality care to vulnerable communities. 

She recently sat down with Bisnow to discuss some of the hurdles healthcare professionals are working to overcome and offer a sneak peek of what she will be discussing at Bisnow’s National Midwest Healthcare Summit. 

Bisnow: Why is Bisnow’s upcoming National Midwest Healthcare Summit so important to you and what will you be speaking about? 

Teitelbaum: There’s a major shift happening in healthcare right now as the industry moves away from being hospital-centric and focuses more on ambulatory sites. As this is happening, there are a lot of new opportunities to examine the structure of how healthcare is delivered, and I’m excited to talk to fellow Bisnow event attendees about that since they’re either participating in this shift, or have clients who are. 

Bisnow: How would you describe what you do for Sinai Health System?

Teitelbaum: I’m the president and CEO at Sinai, so my current role is more externally focused than it was when I was chief operating officer. I work on policy and efficacy issues with our government relations people and our community partners as well as national and state associations. I also work with the philanthropists who invest in our vulnerable communities. 

Bisnow: What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the healthcare industry today? 

Teitelbaum: Every year, the workforce shortage looms larger and larger. The industry needs to work to address the lack of available physicians. 

Along with that, we need to continue to question how we care for vulnerable communities, including uninsured and underinsured patients. Many pieces of the Affordable Care Act are now in flux under the current administration, and we need to determine how we are going to serve the people in our communities who need care but are unable to access it. 

Bisnow: Outside of your work, what are you most passionate about? 

Teitelbaum: I would have to say my two sons; I love them to pieces. I am also passionate about many social justice issues, including criminal justice reform and immigration rights. Along with that, I am also a huge traveler: I’ve been to 26 countries and I’m heading to Japan in a few weeks. 

Karen Teitelbaum will be speaking on the “Medical Forecast 2030: The Influence of Policy, Private-Public Partnerships” panel at Bisnow’s National Midwest Healthcare Summit on Sep. 24. Register here for the event.