Siemens Healthineers survey reveals growing strategic value of laboratory services
Siemens Healthineers presented the results of their report conducted by YouGov, How Clinical Labs Can Turn C-Suite Insights into Strategic Impact, at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo. Among the findings are wide C-suite support for and investment in clinical laboratory services.
The results suggest that laboratory professionals have gained C-suite recognition of the lab's contributions to patient care and the wider health system. Once viewed as a necessary operational function, many healthcare executives now view the laboratory as a clinical enabler that can support wider organizational goals.
Many healthcare executives also recognize their laboratory technology could benefit from further investment. Among the 155 U.S. healthcare executives surveyed whose organizations perform laboratory testing on-site, the majority of respondents agree aging lab equipment poses a risk to their institution and its mission, and place diagnostic and laboratory equipment at the top of their list for upgrades, only behind AI-enabled tools or decision support technologies.
The respondents widely acknowledge optimal laboratory operations can drive wider institutional efficiency – 81% strongly agree laboratory turnaround times directly affect patient care and 72% strongly agree lab performance is critical to wider organizational efficiency.
Many healthcare executives evaluated opportunities to grow their laboratory services in the past 12 months. Among the 95% of respondents who say they considered changes to laboratory services, 82% focused on growth (while the remaining considered outsourcing or consolidation). Organizations that acted (n=148) primarily expanded laboratory services, including infrastructure (37%), test menu (31%), creating new offerings (18%), and/or acquiring lab services (11%). Other changes included consolidating redundant operations (18%) or outsourcing (13%).
Amid growing testing demands, many laboratories face challenges that impede efficiency such as aging infrastructure and workforce constraints. Healthcare executives acknowledge aging lab equipment poses a risk to their institution and its mission (30% strongly agree, 54% agree) and 54% are prioritizing diagnostic and lab equipment ahead of other medical technology for upgrades – second only to AI tools or decision-support technologies (64%).
Sixty-five percent of respondents say lab staff shortages have affected their organization, but just over one-third admit lab staff shortages are not prioritized comparably to other clinical staff shortages (n=100).
As laboratories are expected to achieve more with fewer resources, technology is becoming an increasingly important enabler of sustainable growth. Yet, the survey reveals lagging adoption of technologies such as automation and AI that reduce manual workloads for overtaxed staff and offer healthcare organizations improved quality, consistency, and operational resilience. The research highlights an opportunity to make clearer business cases for laboratory modernization. Among executives who say their laboratory investment considerations stalled, 31% cited uncertainty about the cost-benefit proposition as the primary reason. Healthcare leaders indicate they want technology that can positively affect three key areas: improve operational performance, enhance patient care and/or quality outcomes, and/or create long-term value.
At ADLM 2026 in Booth #3201, Siemens Healthineers will demonstrate how laboratories can turn investment into impact with proof points that have resonated with the C-suite. The next-generation platform from Siemens Healthineers, the Atellica Forte Series, will also be available to experience, though, it is not currently available in the U.S.
