For any merger or acquisition to be successful, organizations need to develop engaging two-way communication strategies to address the needs of all their stakeholders. We have unique experience assisting hospitals and physicians during times of uncertainty and change. Doug Apple, MD, Chief Clinical Officer at Bon Secours Mercy Health shares a unique leadership perspective on this area.
Transcript
Mergers and acquisitions continue to occur through the United States, and in fact, we’re starting to see some health systems outside of the United States merge with companies within the United States, as far as the health care environment.
And the change is one in which it’s difficult for, I think, health care providers, because as you continue to see these mergers of health systems, it’s understanding, what does that mean with regards to cultural change? What does it mean as far as operational change? How does it affect me outside of what I do from a medical perspective? And I think that’s one of the challenges that is also needing to be communicated right to the front-line providers, to be able to understand that their care won’t necessarily diminish, but we’re finding ways to help enhance it, reach out to more patients, and be able to gain more of a skillset by acquiring or merging with these other health systems.
It’s important with regards to physicians understanding mergers and acquisitions, because it affects their culture, understanding why would they join another group, or why would you merge with another group, why do you bring in a small office practice that might enhance your group culture?
It’s important to be able to understand what your own values are when you’re coming to those table settings, to be able to talk about why you want to have somebody come and join you. And I think those are the components which you start then building the bridge as to how the formal arrangement comes together.