The Client Challenge
A large rural health system in the Midwest executed the largest M&A deal in the organization’s history, acquiring seven hospitals, 21 clinics, air and ground transport services, and over 2,300 new team members in 2021. Faced with several surges of COVID-19, acute industry volatility, and numerous competing priorities, they sought to rapidly integrate the new entities and capture value in a non-disruptive manner.
Drivers for Rapid Integration & Value Capture:
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Leadership accountability
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Partnership with industry experts
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Coordinated, critical-path focused approach
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Integration-specific KPIs
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Culture and change management
Navigating to Next: The Solution
To unlock the value of its expanding footprint and integrate the new sites and team members quickly, the health system partnered with The Chartis Group. Chartis created and helmed an “Integration Management Office” to develop and manage the overall integration planning and execution process from end-to-end. Collaborating with 30+ integration teams and serving as the “connective tissue” throughout a comprehensive three-phased approach, Chartis helped leadership focus on the highest-priority activities in an efficient and nimble manner.
- Phase 1 addressed critical pre-close activities required to complete the transaction and operate successfully on “Day 1” and beyond.
- Phase 2 comprised a four-month sprint to rapidly implement the client’s major IT systems at the newly acquired sites.
- Phase 3 concentrated on optimizing operations and realizing value from the deal.
Additional critical areas such as human resources and hospital-specific strategic plans were prioritized and addressed throughout the project. A robust cultural integration and change management strategy was also developed to engage the new team members through various channels/forums and create a sense of belonging.
