More and more, IDNs are not only acquiring more hospitals, but are looking to vertically integrate, merging or exploring other partnering models with physician’s offices, ambulatory surgery centers and other organizations to gain scale and deliver quality care efficiently as they move closer to value-based models.

In a recent interview, Joe Swartz, the administrative director of business transformation for Franciscan St. Francis Health, spoke about his organization’s ten years of effort in engaging every staff member in “kaizen,” or continuous improvement.