Listen to our debrief of The Health Management Academy's Spring 2026 VP of Finance (VPF) Forum. In our debrief, we shared what these executives discussed with their peers, including what VPFs are working on right now.
Below are key takeaways for what is top of mind for finance leaders and what you need to know going into your next conversation with them:
Strategic Partnership Has Outrun Finance Capability Finance teams are taking on a far broader strategic role — from affordability planning to joint ventures — faster than most organizations can keep up. Structural integration across revenue cycle and finance functions is proving to be a key lever for speed and insight.
AI Creates a Talent Paradox for Finance AI is shrinking finance teams while simultaneously raising the bar for the analytical judgment those teams need. The most valuable skill going forward isn't reporting — it's translating data into clear operational decisions.
The Single Source of Truth Is a Culture Problem, Not a Technology One Inconsistent data definitions across finance, IT, and clinical teams remain one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption and ERP success. Until organizations commit to a shared interpretation of the numbers, no technology will close that gap.
AI Hits the Bottom Line When Workflows Are Rebuilt End-to-End Layering AI onto existing processes rarely moves the needle on cost or outcomes. The systems seeing real P&L impact are the ones willing to scrap old workflows entirely and rebuild from scratch.
Foundation First, Vendor Tools Second ERP modernization and AI adoption only deliver value when the underlying data and processes are clean and standardized first. Leaders are right to be skeptical of vendor promises — the foundational work has to come before the tools.