Four Strategic Imperatives Emerge at the 2025 Executive War College
May 6, 2025
After attending this year’s Executive War College, our XiFin team left New Orleans energized, inspired, and deeply optimistic about the future of diagnostics. Now in its 30th year, the event brought together more than 1,000 leaders from across the clinical laboratory and pathology landscape. The atmosphere in New Orleans reflected both the urgency and optimism shaping our industry’s future.
For us here at XiFin, the conference served as an important opportunity to listen, engage, and reflect. Whether reconnecting with longtime partners or meeting new stakeholders—29% of attendees were there for the first time—we heard a consistent theme: laboratories are actively seeking new ways to grow revenue, strengthen operations, and deliver greater value across the care continuum.
This year’s commemorative challenge coin added a meaningful and memorable element, encouraging attendees to share stories and build connections across generations of lab leadership. Regardless of how many times someone had attended, there was a shared sense of purpose and momentum.
As Executive War College founder Robert Michel noted in his keynote, the time has come for laboratories to move beyond timely, accurate results and take on a larger role in improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. At XiFin, we’re proud to support that evolution—and committed to empowering our customers to do more good for more people. Below are four strategic imperatives that emerged from the event sessions and discussions:
1. Make AI Adoption a Core Strategy to Drive Lab Efficiency and Revenue Growth
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a present-day necessity in laboratory operations and revenue cycle management (RCM). Over 25% of this year’s Executive War College presentations focused on AI or digital tools, signaling just how central these technologies have become to the future of diagnostics. Sessions showcased real-world applications in diagnostic workflows, image-based pathology automation, and revenue cycle use cases like coding support, denial pattern recognition, and claims prioritization.
Yet despite its promise, many organizations remain hesitant—a common concern: they don’t fully understand how AI can be applied within their existing workflows. In fact, 33% of attendees cited data quality and completeness as the most significant barrier to AI adoption in RCM, while 50% pointed to integration challenges with existing systems.
What it means: AI adoption is not just relevant to clinical decision support—it’s a critical business strategy. Labs must evaluate where AI delivers the greatest value and build a roadmap that includes foundational data improvements and integration planning. Those who embrace AI with clear, incremental steps will be better equipped to improve diagnostic speed, accuracy, productivity, and revenue outcomes.
2. Turn Revenue Cycle into a Strategic Powerhouse or Risk Falling Behind
Revenue cycle management took center stage, with sessions digging deep into denial trends, payor behavior shifts, and the ongoing pressure to collect more with fewer resources. The consensus? RCM must evolve just as fast as the healthcare environment around it. From redesigning front-end workflows to implementing embedded analytics and automation, labs are rethinking how they manage a claim’s lifecycle.
A key message echoed throughout the event: RCM can no longer operate as a back-office function—it must be a strategic asset. Labs are reimagining the entire lifecycle of a claim, starting with front-end processes like eligibility verification and clean order entry, all the way through denial management, appeals workflows, and final reimbursement. Technologies like integrated business intelligence (BI), real-time payor rules engines, and automation are being deployed to reduce rework, flag issues before submission, and drive faster payments.
Labs also discussed how analytics tools are being used not just for retrospective reporting, but for predictive guidance—helping teams spot patterns in payor behavior, track underpayments, and proactively adapt to shifting policies.
What it means: Enhancing your RCM strategy is now essential—not optional—for achieving financial visibility and accelerating cash flow. Forward-thinking labs are investing in modern RCM infrastructure that combines technology, data, and expertise to stay ahead of payor dynamics, reduce manual effort, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
3. Build Resilient, Efficient Lab Teams by Innovating Staffing Models and Optimizing Operations
Staffing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing laboratories today, with 50% of attendees citing it as the most significant hurdle their organization is currently facing. But this year’s discussions didn’t just dwell on the problem—they focused on actionable strategies. Sessions covered everything from recruiting and retention to creating career development pathways and rethinking job roles.
Labs are increasingly turning to new staffing models, automation, and cross-training to increase efficiency, reduce burnout, and ensure continuity. The message was clear: it isn’t just about hiring more people—it’s about finding innovative ways to get the work done clinically and operationally. That means identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and equip staff with tools that allow them to work at the top of their skill set.
What it means: Solving workforce challenges requires more than headcount—it demands a strategic shift toward building resilient, efficient teams and optimizing operations processes. Labs investing in people and process improvements will be better positioned to weather change, boost productivity, and deliver sustainable results.
4. Transform the Lab’s Role: Diversify Revenue and Drive Growth
At the 30th Executive War College, a central theme was the imperative for laboratories to evolve beyond traditional testing services. In an era of flat healthcare spending and increasing financial pressures, labs are exploring innovative strategies to add value and diversify revenue sources.
One prominent approach discussed was using diagnostic data to identify care gaps. Labs can play a proactive role in patient care by analyzing test results to flag at-risk patients, such as those with elevated A1C levels who haven’t followed up with their physicians. This enhances clinical outcomes and positions laboratories as integral partners in the healthcare continuum.
Revenue cycle management also plays a key role in enabling these expanded services. As labs diversify into new partnerships and programs, they must ensure RCM workflows can support new billing models, capture appropriate reimbursement, and provide visibility into financial performance across service lines. Efficient RCM processes help labs maximize the value of these growth strategies, turning clinical impact into sustainable revenue.
Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs) were also emphasized as avenues for revenue diversification. Labs can support clinical trials and drug development processes by providing specialized testing services and data analytics, opening new business opportunities.
What it means: To thrive in the current healthcare landscape, laboratories must leverage their data assets, embrace predictive analytics, and seek collaborative ventures. By doing so, they can transition from mere service providers to strategic partners, driving improved patient outcomes and financial growth.
The Momentum Is Real—Now Comes the Hard Work
Being part of this year’s Executive War College reminds us that our industry is not just adapting—it’s leading. The conversations our team had, the sessions attended, and the insights heard all confirmed that laboratories are at a turning point. We’re embracing data-driven strategies, rethinking what it means to be a strategic partner, and making bold moves to address the financial and operational pressures ahead.
It’s not just about staying current—it’s about staying ahead. And after seeing firsthand the passion and innovation on display in New Orleans, we’re confident that the lab leaders who act with urgency and intention will shape the future of diagnostics.
Additional Resources:
XiFin was proud to contribute to Executive War College 2025 with four expert-led sessions focused on RCM innovation, AI adoption, and revenue optimization. Explore the presentations below to learn how leading labs are addressing today’s most pressing financial and operational challenges:
- 2025 Payor Denial Impact Report Sneak Peek: Unveiling the Latest Trends and Recommended Practices for Optimizing Clinical Lab, Hospital Outreach, and Pathology Claim Denials and Appeals
- Transforming RCM with Artificial Intelligence: How Northwell Health Laboratories Accelerated Reimbursement, Reduced Billing Errors, and Minimized Denials
- New Digital Tools that Automate Processes: Case Studies and Examples from the Real World on Reducing Billing Errors, Minimizing Denials, and Accelerating Reimbursements
- Changing the Narrative on Prior Authorization: A Collaborative, Programmatic Approach Is Essential