Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Patti DeWane, CFO and Treasurer of UW Health Northern Illinois

Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Andrew Cass
Guest: Patti DeWane

Episode Overview

In this episode, Andrew Cass interviews Patti DeWane, CFO and Treasurer of UW Health Northern Illinois. Patti discusses her career path in healthcare finance, the evolving responsibilities of her role, and provides a deep dive into the most pressing trends facing healthcare leaders today. She also shares insight into UW Health’s operational priorities, growth strategies, and what excites her most about the future.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Patti DeWane’s Background and Evolving Role

[00:15 – 02:39]

• Early Career:
  • Started in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
  • Joined Swedish American Health System, which was later acquired by UW Health.
• Transition to UW Health:
  • Became CFO at acquisition (2015).
  • Traditional hospital CFO duties evolved as certain functions (revenue cycle, supply chain, compliance) were integrated system-wide.
• Expanding Responsibilities:
  • Now also oversees operations of an ambulatory surgery center and pharmacy teams.
  • Emphasizes the importance of strong collaboration between finance and operations:
    • “Being a CFO, you have to be able to intersect with operations very well, because what one does, the other needs to understand in order to make the organization perform well.” (B, 02:31)

Top Healthcare Trends to Watch

[02:49 – 06:32]

• 1. Financial Pressures:
  • Major concern over upcoming regulations (referenced as HR1).
  • Persistent cost challenges, even as contract labor from the pandemic era has decreased.
• 2. Workforce Challenges:
  • Difficulty staffing certain specialties and shifts (e.g., MRI techs, pharmacy techs, nights/evenings).
  • Use of premium labor and overtime impacts the bottom line.
• 3. Artificial Intelligence (AI):
  • AI as an efficiency tool but warns of high costs and the need for clear ROI.
  • “I worry about the cost of AI because you have to be able to have an ROI there… These are very expensive technologies.” (B, 04:41)
• 4. Regulatory Environment:
  • Cybersecurity is a significant concern due to costly attacks and rising insurance premiums.
  • “Healthcare systems are continuously under attack. We had a number of them that have been attacked in the recent years and multiple millions of dollars of waste that we have spent.” (B, 05:32)
  • Illinois’ lack of malpractice caps affects defensive medicine, driving up the cost of care for both providers and patients.
    • “The state of Illinois, because it doesn't have caps, seems to be a very heavy suit-friendly state...That does drive up the cost of care for everyone.” (B, 06:10)

What’s Most Exciting Right Now

[06:37 – 08:13]

• Operational Innovations and Ambulatory Surgery Center:
  • Opportunity to “close the loop” on gastroenterology referrals which had been outsourced, thereby improving patient care continuity and keeping downstream revenue within UW Health.
  • Significant investment in primary care, with downstream benefits for specialty lines.
  • Launching new service lines and expanding procedures into both surgery center and hospital settings:
    • “It’s an exciting time. It’s a new service line for us.” (B, 07:46)

Growth Strategies for the Next 12 Months

[08:18 – 10:19]

• Service Line Expansion:
  • Gastroenterology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and especially advancements in cardiology (including robotic coronary artery bypass).
  • Bringing complex specialty care to the local Rockford community, reducing need for patient travel to larger urban centers.
    • “As a community health system, we believe that taking care of the patient as close to home is the best possible outcome.” (B, 09:14)
  • Despite a largely flat local population, focus is on becoming the provider of choice through excellence, anticipating modest growth from local economic developments.

Memorable Quotes

• On Role Evolution:

  • “Being a CFO, you have to be able to intersect with operations very well, because what one does, the other needs to understand in order to make the organization perform well.” (B, 02:31)

• On AI and Technology Investment:

  • “I worry about the cost of AI because you have to be able to have an ROI there… These are very expensive technologies.” (B, 04:41)

• On Cybersecurity Threats:

  • “Healthcare systems are continuously under attack. We had a number of them that have been attacked in the recent years and multiple millions of dollars of waste that we have spent.” (B, 05:32)

• On Defensive Medicine and Cost of Care:

  • “The state of Illinois, because it doesn't have caps, seems to be a very heavy suit-friendly state...That does drive up the cost of care for everyone.” (B, 06:10)

• On Growth and Patient-Centered Care:

  • “As a community health system, we believe that taking care of the patient as close to home is the best possible outcome.” (B, 09:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:15 | Patti’s career background and evolving CFO responsibilities | | 02:49 | Top healthcare trends: financial, workforce, AI, regulation | | 06:37 | Most exciting developments: new service lines, ASC growth | | 08:18 | Growth strategies: service line expansion, local specialty |

Tone and Language

Patti DeWane’s tone throughout the conversation is direct, analytical, and pragmatic, reflecting her dual focus on financial stewardship and operational innovation. She balances critical analysis of industry pressures with an earnest enthusiasm for opportunities to better serve patients and grow UW Health’s capabilities within the Rockford community.

This summary covers all major topics, highlights essential strategies and concerns for healthcare finance leaders, and captures Patti DeWane’s key perspectives from the episode.