Dr. Sunny Bhatia Highlights Prime Healthcare’s Strategic Focus for 2026

Reflecting Prime's responsible approach to growth, Dr. Bhatia noted, "Our acquisition pipeline is very deep right now in many markets across the country. We want to be very disciplined because there are potential headwinds that have to be clarified." This approach underscores Prime's ability to transform distressed hospitals into thriving regional anchors while strengthening access to quality care in underserved communities.

As one of the nation's leading health systems, Prime Healthcare operates 51 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations across 14 states. Under Dr. Bhatia's physician leadership, the organization continues to deliver nationally recognized clinical excellence while maintaining its founding mission to preserve and protect community hospitals.

The discussion followed a landmark expansion for Prime Healthcare in 2025, the largest acquisition in its history, when the physician-led health system added eight hospitals and affiliated medical facilities in Illinois. "We actually created more than 1,000 jobs within the system, instead of using outsourced companies," Dr. Bhatia said, referencing new roles created through insourcing laboratory, food and nutrition, and environmental services.

Other capital investments in Illinois include the Epic electronic medical record transition along with expanded geropsychiatry and cardiovascular programs, cath lab renovations, and geriatric emergency department certifications across multiple hospitals.

At the national level, Prime is also broadening its network of ambulatory surgery centers through physician partnerships and advancing post-acute care coordination by improving transitions and data sharing through its EMR system.

"We look at what the communities need, what we have historically been able to do, and what we think we can do in each region," Dr. Bhatia added. "We really respect the locality of healthcare."

Prime Healthcare remains guided by its mission to deliver compassionate, high-quality care and ensure that community hospitals continue to thrive. Through physician-led leadership, responsible growth, and a steadfast focus on innovation and service, Prime Healthcare continues to strengthen the health and vitality of communities nationwide.