As hospitals face continued financial pressure and uncertainty around federal policy and reimbursement, Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital is taking a long-term approach, strengthening operating performance now while continuing to invest in academic medicine and new care delivery models. John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital and Florida Sciences Center, said 2026 is unlikely to bring immediate disruption for most health systems, but he expects the cumulative impact of policy and funding changes to intensify in the years that follow. Tampa General is planning ahead rather than waiting for those pressures to materialize. “I feel like 2026 is going to be about the barometric pressure dropping. I don’t think we’re going to see huge changes in healthcare in 2026,” Mr. Couris said during an interview with the “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.” “I think in 2027 and 2028, we’ll start to really feel some significant effects from both policy and funding changes that are being put through the federal government.” Academic alignment as a strategic investmentOver the past year, one of the system’s most significant initiatives has been further integrating Tampa General and Florida Health Sciences Center with the University of South Florida. Mr. Couris said the work has focused on aligning clinical operations, education, research and finances with USF Health and the Morsani College of Medicine. “It’s taking a robust academic health system, connecting it with a university and a medical school, the Morsani College of Medicine, and integrating them clinically, integrating them educationally, integrating them from a research perspective,…
