Podcast Summary
Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Transforming Care and Culture at TriHealth with Mark C. Clement
Air Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Mark C. Clement, CEO of TriHealth, Cincinnati
Episode Overview
This episode features a deep-dive conversation with Mark C. Clement, CEO of TriHealth in Cincinnati, about the transformational journey of the health system over the past decade. Clement shares insights on leading large-scale change toward population health, the importance of partnerships versus ownership, building a high-performing culture, and his advice to emerging healthcare leaders.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. TriHealth’s Transformation Journey
- Background and Scale
- TriHealth is a $3 billion health system with six hospitals, 13 major ambulatory campuses, 14,000 team members, and is the second largest employer in Cincinnati. (00:33)
- Mark Clement returned to his Cincinnati roots in 2015 to lead TriHealth, following a national healthcare executive career.
2. Commitment to Population Health & Value-Based Care
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System Evolution & Strategy
- Post-Affordable Care Act consolidation led TriHealth to acquire hospitals, ambulatory sites, and employ hundreds of independent physicians. (02:03)
- The organization faced a crossroads: continue with the "broken" fee-for-service model or pivot towards value-based and proactive care.
- Emphasis on population health, value-based payment systems with CMS and commercial payers, chronic disease management, and early intervention.
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Results & Recognition
- Patients now objectively healthier through early detection and moving care to outpatient and home settings.
- TriHealth delivers care at 12-15% below the Ohio state average in total cost, per commercial insurer data. (04:20)
- Recognized by UnitedHealthcare and Anthem as a top-performing accountable care organization in their national networks.
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Notable Quote
- "Our board and our physician leaders didn't flinch...We realized that there really was a better way." – Mark Clement (03:05)
3. Partnerships as a Core Strategy
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Philosophy of Collaboration
- TriHealth was formed via a partnership between Good Samaritan and Bethesda Hospitals in the 1990s. (05:59)
- Partnerships with:
- Beacon Orthopedics (largest independent ortho group in Cincinnati)
- Select Medical (acute rehab hospital)
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Fetal Care Center; delivering at-risk babies for immediate specialist intervention)
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Collaboration Criteria
- Partnerships are pursued if both parties bring irreplaceable strengths and create wins for both organizations and the communities served.
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Notable Quote
- "What really guides our development of partnerships and joint ventures is, does each of the parties bring something unique to the partnership that we can't do independently?" – Mark Clement (08:00)
4. Building a High-Performing Organizational Culture
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Leadership Philosophy
- TriHealth invests heavily in people and culture, in alignment with Peter Drucker’s “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and Quint Studer’s “strategy plus culture wins every day.” (09:58)
- Quarterly Leadership Development Institute for 1,000+ physician, administrative, and nursing leaders—34 sessions held to date.
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Engagement & Results
- In 11 years, moved from bottom quartile to 95th percentile for staff and physician engagement, translating to top decile results in safety, patient experience, turnover, growth, and financial metrics.
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Notable Quotes
- "The first piece of advice I would give is invest in people and culture because that more than anything will define your success." – Mark Clement (10:34)
- "Engagement really is the degree to which physicians and team members will commit discretionary effort to assisting the organization in achieving its vision and its goals." – Mark Clement (11:30)
5. Advice to Emerging Leaders
- Leadership Essentials
- Invest in people and culture as the central strategy for enduring success.
- Celebrate team achievements and maintain alignment and motivation through regular communication and development.
6. Shout-Outs & Local Color
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Team Appreciation
- Clement praises the entire TriHealth team’s commitment to excellence and transformative care. (13:43)
- "We are blessed with the very best healthcare team anywhere."
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Community Spirit
- Closing with a lighthearted discussion of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and local sports pride. (14:00)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On TriHealth’s Direction:
"There's a moral imperative: if there's a better way to deliver care—more proactive, more coordinated, focusing on better managing chronic conditions—then there really is a better way."
– Mark Clement (03:30) -
On Partnerships:
"We don't feel like we have to own every asset to really carry out our mission."
– Mark Clement (06:15) -
On Leadership:
"Like clockwork, every three months, that's how we create a highly aligned and highly engaged organization—investing in our leaders and investing in our people."
– Mark Clement (11:00) -
On Team Recognition:
"I feel privileged every day to come to work and work beside this amazing team that really is committed to delivering exceptional service, safety and transforming healthcare for the better."
– Mark Clement (13:45)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction & TriHealth Overview – 00:33
- Population Health & Value-Based Care Transformation – 02:03
- Collaborative Partnerships & Joint Ventures – 05:59
- Leadership Philosophy & Culture Building – 09:58
- Advice for Emerging Leaders – 10:34
- Team Recognition & Community Spirit – 13:43
Tone and Style
The conversation is candid, forward-looking, and rooted in practical experience. Clement is passionate and principled, emphasizing moral imperatives and collaborative solutions, while host Scott Becker maintains a warm, respectful tone with personal anecdotes and thoughtful prompts.
For listeners and healthcare leaders alike, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable insights on how vision, partnership, and culture can collectively transform a health system and its community impact.