MHA Launches Strategic Investment In Mission-Driven Businesses, Health Care Utilities

As Missouri hospitals face increasingly complex challenges — many requiring solutions beyond what any single organization can build alone — the Missouri Hospital Association is taking a strategic step to address this reality.

MHA and the Mindshare Institute have partnered to build new mission-driven businesses and establish additional health care utilities. These shared, nonprofit entities are designed to deliver essential services at the lowest sustainable cost while driving operational efficiencies and a stronger return on investment for participating hospitals.

The MHA Board of Trustees recently approved an investment of up to $3 million with the Mindshare Institute to support the development of these health care utilities and other scalable solutions.

“The people of Missouri’s hospitals relentlessly innovate each day to do the sacred work of caring for patients and supporting their communities in an environment that is growing more complex,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA’s president and CEO. “With the Mindshare Institute, MHA can create practical, forward-looking solutions to help our members meet their current and future missions.”

Missouri hospitals continue to navigate challenges such as supply chain disruptions, rising operational and workforce costs, and increasing demand for integrated data and coordinated care. While these pressures vary by organization, many require shared approaches to achieve meaningful scale and impact.

“This partnership enables Missouri hospitals and health systems to help create solutions to improve affordability, strengthen sustainability and support the long-term health of the communities they serve,” Doolittle added. “We’re excited, in partnership with our members, to help shape the outside influences that previously were beyond our control.”

Rather than building standalone programs, MHA and the Mindshare Institute will work together to do the following.

• accelerate innovation through multi-hospital (and health system) collaboration
• develop scalable solutions that reduce cost and complexity
• expand access to tools that improve performance and sustainability

Over time, this work is expected to deliver practical services that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen hospitals’ ability to serve patients and communities.

MHA will continue to engage members in identifying priority areas and will provide regular updates on emerging initiatives and outcomes.

As health care continues to evolve, Doolittle noted one principle remains constant — hospitals are strongest when they work together. This investment represents an important step toward building the partnerships and infrastructure needed to shape the future of health care and positions Missouri hospitals to help lead change.