Higher Thinking
Quick, timely blog posts. Thought-provoking trends. How-to guides and in-depth case studies. Use this page to explore all of our best thinking on US healthcare delivery, plus the occasional news from our firm. Find something that inspires or troubles you? Contact us any time – we’d love to be your thought partner in delivering more accessible, sustainable, and equitable healthcare. >>
Case Studies
Securing the Future of a County-Owned Hospital
Here’s how we helped elected leaders in one rural county secure a brighter future for the county-owned hospital.
Blog Posts
Meet the Team: Patricia Dowbiggin
Our strategy consultant discusses her background in EMS, her burden for rural healthcare ... and her love of the outdoors.
Blog Posts
Why Private Equity Is No Strategy for Struggling Hospitals
For providers in imminent danger of closing their doors and stopping all service, private equity might be better than nothing. But only just.
Firm News
Ascendient Aids County After Hospital Closure (Video)
When a rural hospital was closed unexpectedly, Ascendient stepped in to find a more sustainable option for local healthcare.
Guides
Public Health Strategic Planning: the Ascendient Guide
Where are we? Who are we? Where are we going? Those three questions are the key to public health strategic planning in a time of turmoil.
Healthcare Horizons
Smart Health Devices: A Smart Business for Hospitals?
Why a hospital-based tech boutique might be a viable strategy for building enduring patient relationships and new revenue streams.
Healthcare Horizons
Disruption Alert: Mayo’s Hospital at Home Program
Mayo Clinic's innovative, hub-and-spoke hospital at home program offers encouraging clinical and financial results – plus the potential for large-scale industry disruption.
Healthcare Horizons
Rural Telehealth: Re-Thinking the Timeline
Rural telehealth can seem like a distant dream due to broadband access issues, but the future is here today if you simply look up.
Healthcare Horizons
Hospital M&A: 3 Reasons to Know Your HHI
As regulators crack down on mergers, healthcare leaders need to defend their plans with a mix of numbers + narrative.
Guides
Look-Alike Health Centers: the Ascendient Guide
Learn why this obscure provider type can offer financial and strategic benefits while improving care for underserved communities.
Videos
Healthcare Consulting Partnerships: 3 Executive Testimonials
Three healthcare leaders in a variety of roles discuss Ascendient's value as a long-term partner.
Blog Posts
Physician Alignment: Watch Out for Corporate Competitors
Corporate buyers are snapping up physician practices at a record pace. Here are 4 implications for hospitals' physician alignment strategy.
Blog Posts
Rural Emergency Hospital Questions: Just the FAQs
We have answers to the 9 biggest questions we've been hearing about Medicare's new Rural Emergency Hospital model.
Blog Posts
Strategic Planning for Hospitals: Why Worry About the Surge
Lately we've seen record interest in our strategic planning services for hospitals – and that could be a bad sign for the U.S. healthcare system.
Blog Posts
Healthcare Strategy: 4 Lessons from Amazon Care
If you think the end of Amazon Care represents a failure, then maybe it's time to re-examine your definition of healthcare strategy.
Healthcare Horizons
Health Equity Strategy: 6 Things to Know About New CMS Rules
The Hospital IQR Program now includes rules promoting health equity. Here are 6 smart steps for getting compliant.
Guides
The Ascendient Guide to Rural Emergency Hospitals
Is the new REH model right for you? Here's an in-depth look at some implications for finances, strategy, and mission.
Case Studies
Steering Two Competing Systems Toward a Population Health Center
In one rural market, we created a blueprint for cooperation rather than unsustainable competition between failing providers.
Healthcare Horizons
Healthcare Strategic Planning: Forget the 5 Pillars
How is strategic planning different from operational excellence? Think bucket lists, fingerprints, and barometers.
Blog Posts
Public Health Strategic Planning: Don’t Skimp on the SWOT
A good SWOT analysis is foundational to public health strategic planning. Here's a step-by-step guide for doing it right.