Marc Miller, President & CEO, Universal Health Services
Universal Health Services is flourishing, and this year projects over $17 billion in revenue for 2025. This multibillion-dollar growth is being channeled into meeting a growing consumer demand to avoid hospital stays in favor of less intensive care settings. “Our plan for the future is to really double down on what we’re already great at. That’s just how we do things,” Marc Miller, the company’s president and CEO, told Invest:.
What changes over the past year have most influenced your team’s strategy and the way that you are approaching growth as an organization?
Universal Health Services (UHS) is projected to achieve over $17 billion in revenue in 2025, marking an 11% increase from the previous year. The company anticipates reaching nearly 100,000 employees within the next year, reflecting its continued rapid growth. While we acknowledge the significant impact of policy changes originating from Washington, particularly those affecting healthcare policy and reimbursement, we remain confident in our ability to adapt. UHS has a strong track record of effectively responding to evolving regulatory landscapes.
Beyond legislative influences, the healthcare industry has seen a growing trend toward expansion into outpatient care to further complement and provide a full continuum of care. UHS is strategically aligning its decisions to capitalize on this shift in the market.
On the patient needs side, how is that shaping the expansion the organization has been pursuing nationwide?
Our company offers a unique perspective as one of the largest behavioral health providers in the United States, with this segment comprising half of our operations. The other half consists of 29 acute care hospitals. We operate in 40 states across the United States and are also the largest psychiatric provider in the U.K. Many patients seek to access initial care or follow-up care in an outpatient setting — they don’t want to be in an inpatient setting if they can avoid it. For us, it’s about meeting patients where they are or where they want to be. We are actively pursuing various expansion opportunities, particularly in outpatient settings.
We are also expanding our inpatient care offerings due to continued growth and demand. UHS recently opened a new hospital (West Henderson Hospital) in southern Nevada, its largest U.S. market, which has had a strong start. Another hospital (Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health), the first new one in Washington, D.C. in 25 years, is also performing well and meeting a significant community need. UHS plans to open its latest acute care hospital (Alan B. Miller Medical Center) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in April 2026. This expansion reflects a commitment to meeting inpatient consumer needs and demand in various locations.
On the behavioral health side, UHS is not only adding new beds in some of its 200+ U.S. facilities and over 100 U.K. facilities but also expanding outpatient programs. These programs include various types of group therapies, intensive outpatient programs, and substance use disorder treatments. There is a continuous need for increased services, and UHS is committed to enhancing its long-standing presence and offerings in this area.
Why do you think your company has been recognized on Fortune’s list of the world’s most admired companies?
We are consistently proud of the recognition we receive. Our mission, which has remained consistent throughout our almost 47-year history, is a key reason for this success. Many employees consider UHS their long-term employer, with numerous staff members dedicating 25, 30, or even over 40 years to the company. Our employee retention and longevity with UHS are a testament to our commitment to meeting them where they are and fostering their professional growth. As we expand, we prioritize our workforce, believing that promoting from within is the most effective strategy. This infectious culture of internal advancement has been a cornerstone of our success.
How is the pilot use of AI power tools changing the experience both for patients and clinicians?
At UHS, we’re excited about the possibilities AI brings, but we are focused on ensuring that our approach is safe and appropriate. We have prioritized our efforts on non-clinical areas first, as we believe this is the most logical place to start. As technology is tested elsewhere, and proven reliable, we will then feel confident and look to expand our rollouts into other areas. Our biggest priorities are keeping patients safe and avoiding any gaps or glitches when we implement new technology. Additionally, in August 2023, we became a founding partner in Hippocratic AI — which is now a well-known company with significant private equity backing.
What do you see as the greatest opportunities for UHS to expand its impact and shape the future of healthcare in the next five to 10 years?
For us, it’s continuing what we’ve already been doing. We consistently identify areas to expand where we have had past success, while also looking for new opportunities that we feel confident will complement our current offerings. We’ve continued to grow and serve more patients — and we’re focused on giving each patient the best care possible in whatever care setting they choose. By focusing on quality and treating patients with the respect and service they expect, more opportunities will naturally come our way. If we implement this strategy, we have confidence that we will continue to find success.
