Non-profit hospital system, Empire Health Services (EHS) was at a turning point.  In financial distress, with hospital closure looming, EHS decided to sell its assets to a for-profit buyer, Community Health Systems.

DHC served as a strategic advisor and partner to the EHS Board, providing overall strategy and implementation. To gain support for the conversion, DHC developed a multi-audience strategy, conducted outreach and helped gain support needed to overcome seemingly insurmountable opposition.  Armed with a flexible plan, DHC and EHS met challenges, engaged in frequent communication with audiences and gained the support of the community, employees, Washington State Department of Health and Washington State Attorney General. 

Despite what one executive at Community Health Systems called “the most complicated conversion we’ve been a part of,” the sale was approved and today two local hospitals are in the strongest positions they’ve seen in decades.