Governing Board’s Role in Mergers and Alliances: New Issue of Great Boards

Healthcare reform is expected to drive a new round of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances among hospitals and other providers.

As a white paper last summer from The Governance Institute noted, “Since the recent passage of healthcare reform, nonprofits have demonstrated much more interest in achieving scale. Also, a number of free-standing hospitals and small hospital systems are questioning whether they can thrive post-healthcare reform, without becoming part of a large system.”

A consolidation strategy goes to the core of a governing body’s fiduciary duty to preserve the organization’s long-term viability to sustain its mission. Directors should ask whether consolidation will strengthen the organization’s finances, operations, market position, growth potential, and core values, and thus support its mission. Or conversely, will consolidation dilute resources and damage stakeholder relationships?

The new issue of Great Boards is designed to orient directors to the key governance issues involved with mergers and strategic alliances. It includes the steps boards should take to prepare for a consolidation strategy; the seven key questions at the heart of almost every deal; and the right timing for engaging a small task force and the full board.  Read and download it now at http://greatboards.org/.