Healthcare Systemness
Successfully Integrate Services Across Your Facilities for Significant Benefits

Operating healthcare support services efficiently and cost-effectively in a multifacility organization is critical in today’s complex environment. When multiple facilities operate under a unified management systems, organizations realize cost efficiencies, improvements in patient satisfaction, and standardized service delivery.

According to a study by the Advisory Board, today’s healthcare systems are growing and becoming more complex:

84% increase in M&A transaction volume from 2009 to 2019
69% increase in average acquired hospital revenue from 2014 to 2017, as compared to 2006 to 2009
8,000 medical practices were acquired by hospitals from 2016 to 2018

healthcare worker pushing male child in a wheelchair

These are among the many reasons why more healthcare organizations are transitioning to a systemized approach to services management — a process known within the industry as “systemness.”

“Systemness” means driving operational and cost consistency across a healthcare system by bringing services together from multiple facilities under one management team. Any support service can be systemized — including patient and retail dining, environmental services, and energy and facilities management. Furthermore, many of these services can be aggregated for greater benefits.

The benefits of systemness are widespread and include higher patient satisfaction, better patient outcomes, higher nurse and employee satisfaction, lower staff turnover, compliance risk mitigation, continuous improvement and cost savings.

Leading Benefits of Systemness

Systemness is top of mind for many in 2021, according to the Advisory Board. One reason is that it gives healthcare organizations the ability to overcome the challenges of operating with disparate service operations at multiple facilities. Centralizing service management positions organizations for multiple positive outcomes, including:

Cost Savings

Standard processes and protocols across an entire healthcare portfolio deliver significant savings and efficiencies

Compliance

Hospitals can reduce the threat of noncompliance with regulatory requirements

Standardization

Hospitals gain a consistent, seamless experience for the organization, staff and patients

Unified

Hospitals can strengthen employee recruitment and retention in a competitive marketplace

Alignment

Hospitals gain network-wide efficiencies in services operation, such as labor optimization and dining strategies

Leverage Scale

Hospitals can maximize revenue by eliminating redundancy and improving efficiency at every level

Internal Competition

Hospitals can lower the risk of poor performance in critical areas, such as patient room turnover

Centralization

Hospitals can investment in technology to gain additional efficiencies while lower operating costs

Reasons Your Organization Should Embrace Systemness

A growing number of healthcare leaders are looking for a solution to the inefficiencies created when services at different hospitals are operated under different management teams. The risks associated with varying standards of service delivery, quality control, and insight into operations can be significant. There are several reasons why organizations decide it’s time to systemize their services, including these four scenarios:

Eliminate Wasted Expenses at Multiple Hospitals.

Many large healthcare systems operate all their hospitals under one mission. However, they often let each hospital manage its own services. This leads to a host of problems, from breakdowns in communication to higher service costs. With systemness, hospitals gain the benefit of shared services. This means they are consolidated enough to be efficient and coordinated, but still responsive enough that each facility’s needs are met.

Combine Cultures During Mergers and Acquisitions.

Mergers and acquisitions present significant challenges. Combining the many moving parts and cultures of multiple organizations can be difficult and chaotic. Anything that supports the merging of different cultures into one homogenous operation results in an improvement in patient experience and staff members’ job satisfaction — including bringing together services management. Systemness can create a culture, common to all, that promotes greater employee engagement and retention.

Improve Service to Their Communities.

When services are managed more efficiently and cost-effectively, medical organizations are better equipped to serve and heal their local communities.

Support Better Staff Hiring and Retention.

Several factors are contributing to today’s shortage of healthcare workers, including the advent of COVID-19. Healthcare organizations with well-run service operations deliver greater employee job satisfaction and are better able to hire and retain critical staffing levels. Additionally, systemness can create a culture and employee engagement platform that promotes greater employee engagement and retention.

Systemizing Services Drives Greater Cost Savings

By partnering with Aramark, you will gain efficiencies, synergies and financial savings they gain through systemized services. Financial savings are gained through these advantages:

Economies of Scale

Leverage cost incentives based on volume purchasing discounts.

Productivity Gaines

Reduce the common inefficiencies within service delivery.

Rebate Opportunities

Get money back based on volume purchasing of services and goods.

Streamlined Management

Eliminate redundancy to gain financial savings.

Facility Appearance

Operate under a cost-effective centralized engineering and construction management service.

7 Benefits of Driving Systemness with Aramark

Managed services have evolved into an exacting science because service delivery impacts every aspect of delivering cost-effective patient care — from dining services to EVS to energy and facilities management.

When healthcare organizations partner with Aramark, they gain significant benefits — starting with a smooth transition from multiple independent service entities to one homogenous organization.

The key to a successful merger of services is choosing a partner with an experienced mobilization team, proven processes, leading-edge systems and more. Here are seven reasons healthcare organizations are partnering with Aramark for systemization.

Employ Proven Service Standardization Processes

Aramark leverages a consistent, multidisciplinary approach to systemization that increases productivity and lowers costs across all locations, including:

Deploying services at scale. Engage processes and technologies that support an efficient transition for facilities of all sizes.
Setting short-term goals. Mobilize the right team and technologies to support an optimized transition process.
Establishing long-term best practices. Keep all facilities coordinated and deliver consistent, optimal service levels.

Access Continuous Improvement Processes

Aramark optimizes service performance by continually looking for ways to deliver greater efficiencies, including:

Monitoring the marketplace. Watch for new innovations that offer greater efficiencies. For example, AIWX Connect is an IoT-based solution providing real-time insight into space utilization for improved labor and expense allocation
Engaging in R&D. Work with partners to develop leading-edge products according to healthcare’s high standards.
Deploying leading-edge solutions. Launch innovative technologies that drive greater efficiencies.

Leverage Standardized Technology

Aramark manages all facilities using centralized technology platforms. These systems provide organizations several important advantages, including:

Streamlining operations. Manage all functions for faster turnaround times and improved patient throughput.
Driving network-wide efficiencies. Real-time insights to identify opportunities and inform better performance.
Measuring performance. Generate real-time reports to support short- and long-term decision-making.

Maintain Facilities for Patient Safety and Satisfaction

Aramark ensures optimal patient safety and satisfaction in these ways:

Maintaining patient-facing areas. Improve the appearance of patient rooms and waiting rooms.
Deploying repeatable processes. Advanced technologies and quality control systems address broad aspects of environment care.
Maintaining asset longevity. Protect all assets through proper maintenance.

Optimize Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

Aramark lowers the risk of compliance infractions and penalties through expertise in:

Preventing infection outbreaks. Deploy advanced EVS programs that mitigate disease spread.
Meeting regulatory rules. Enact proven processes that ensure organizations meet stringent demands.
Reporting insights. Follow guidelines for regulatory bodies and leadership teams.

Centralize Employee Support, Training and Recruitment

Aramark ensures facilities have qualified staff without suffering resource inefficiencies by:

Deploying employee training programs. Boost recruitment and retention at scale.
Providing career advancement opportunities. Enhance employee engagement and job satisfaction.
Delivering proactive succession plans. Eliminate employment gaps by leveraging a national network of specialists.

Maintaining Quality while Managing Expenditures

Aramark delivers productivity efficiencies that drive cost savings in several ways, including:

Using an established supply chain. Gain purchasing power for supplies, equipment and more.
Launching system-wide efficiencies. Deploy technologies, processes and systems, such as in labor and material expenditures.
Delivering the appropriate level of services. Seek continuous improvement based on models that identify ever-greater efficiencies.

How to Get Started with Systemness

One of the goals of organizations that want to systemize their services is to make the transition in the least disruptive way possible.

This requires a partner with on-site experience and who has a deep understanding of healthcare management, is equipped with proven methods and efficient processes, and is prepared to save the organization money in many ways.

By partnering with Aramark, you’ll gain a process that delivers:

A rapid system integration
Smoother, well-coordinated transition
Streamlined processes and resources
Consistent operational performance

Contact us today to discuss how we can help your healthcare organization transition to centralized services management.

We look forward to having a deeper discussion with you.

Healthcare Systemness Successfully Integrate Services Across Your Facilities for Significant Benefits