Can public hospitals move from crisis care to preventative care?
Crisis care can be easily accessible. NGH’s No-Wait Emergency Department (ED) initiative works towards this mission, cutting average hospital wait times from over two hours to just four to five minutes. Reducing ED congestion streamlines care, making the system more efficient and improving access.

However, at NGH, we believe that care delivery must be proactive and continuous—not reactive, one-off interventions. Our Community Care Team ensures that patients leaving the hospital or those who show up at the ED but could better be cared for in an ambulatory environment don’t have to navigate the complexities of follow-up care alone. This continuity of care is essential for breaking the cycle of high-cost emergency department visits and preventing health crises before they happen.
Financial sustainability through innovation
Financial instability—one of the biggest threats to public hospitals—can be overcome by shifting the payer mix, optimizing utilization management and revenue cycle processes, focusing on preventative care, and reducing hospital readmissions. This combination of internal efficiencies and community-based care delivery generates financial outcomes that lead to sustainability.

Another strategic approach is expanding service lines that generate volume to diversify revenue streams. At NGH, we have successfully done this by re-establishing our Office of Clinical Research in 2023. Since its revival, NGH has been selected for multiple oncology and gastrointestinal trials, generating new revenue streams that support financial sustainability. Research is also vital to informing physician providers and policymakers.

Public hospitals have a unique opportunity to leverage clinical research to further their financial goals and mission to provide high-quality, equitable care—especially to underserved communities often left out of cutting-edge clinical research.

Can NGH’s success be a blueprint for national change?
The success we’ve achieved at NGH has not gone unnoticed. Bruce Siegel, CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, recently remarked, “It’s hard to have a vibrant community without a vibrant essential health system. That’s not just about healthcare—that’s about fighting against food deserts, promoting economic development, and ensuring educational attainment. Dr. Webb and his team have changed that conversation here and nationally.”

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