Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/351959
48 Executive Briefing: Information Management Sponsored by W ith the number of healthcare mergers and acquisitions continuing to grow, it's hard to keep up with the various affiliations and partnerships between providers. With the shift to meaningful use and accountable care, it will be important to increase efficiencies and consolidate processes to maximize cost savings during the merger — and beyond. Providers will need to develop a transition plan that addresses workflow as well as infor- mation technology to optimize the results of integration. There are analogies on a personal level that bring these concepts to life. Whether you are combining households through marriage or inviting parents or in-laws to move in, you'll need to eliminate redundancies (how many coffee makers do you need?) and con- solidate technology (which cable company do you choose?). By consolidating, you'll be able to take advantage of bigger savings — while minimizing the number of bills you need to pay and ven- dors you need to manage. And, if you're contemplating the pur- chase of a new house, you want visibility into the total cost to manage the property (does it use oil or gas?), any associated risks (like a leaky roof) and the status of the infrastructure (like an aging furnace) before agreeing to the sale. For healthcare providers, there are similar steps to take — both before and during the merger. Critical IT applications and systems may be dated, and there could be risks associated with the way this health information is managed. Not only is it necessary to under- Optimizing Your Information Management Strategy During Mergers & Acquisitions INSIGHT © 2014 Iron Mountain Incorporated. All rights reserved. Iron Mountain and the design of the mountain are registered trademarks of Iron Mountain Incorporated in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. INFORMATION IS EVERYTHING A merger or acquisition can set off a journey that requires the assessment of your processes, policies and technologies. Your goal is to emerge with a streamlined infrastructure that reduces risk and cost. Learn how to gain the insights that can enhance your information governance practices and drive savings across your health system. ironmountain.com/healthinsights