Patient Family Advisors in Merger and Acquisition

Presented by:

Mary Lynne Knighten, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Healthcare Consultant and Lead Patient Family Council Member
St. Francis Medical Center

Alice Gunderson, BA, BS
Healthcare Consultant and Lead Patient Family Advisor
St. Francis Medical Center

Derek S. Drake, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNML, CNL
Former Chief Nursing Officer (2016 – May, 2020)
St. Francis Medical Center

Guy Phipps, RN, BSN, MBA, CNML
Executive Director of Clinical Services
St. Francis Medical Center

Hospital and health system mergers, acquisitions (M&A) and partnership transactions are featured in the news almost daily. During the turbulent times of transition, the PFAs in an urban safety net hospital levered their partnership to generate organization stability. Participating in the required M&A activities became creative during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on gatherings and physical distancing.