In most healthcare mergers, the integration clock starts ticking the moment the deal is signed. But long after the consultants leave and systems are stitched together, one variable continues to drive—or drain—business performance: the standardization of IT. When systems, processes, and identity infrastructures remain fragmented, organizations end up with a fragile, reactive, and costly operating model. But when IT is standardized, the entire enterprise benefits—operationally, financially, and strategically. In a post-M&A healthcare landscape defined by complexity and cost pressure, standardization isn’t just a cleanup task—it’s a growth multiplier.

1. Scalability Without Complexity 

Healthcare systems are not static—they grow, acquire, integrate, and evolve. Without standardized IT frameworks, each new addition introduces exponential complexity. Different identity schemas, incompatible workflows, and inconsistent access controls make scaling slow and expensive.  

By contrast, IT standardization creates a blueprint for repeatability: 

• Centralized identity platforms enable faster onboarding 
• Standard role-based access controls simplify credentialing 
• Uniform infrastructure reduces setup time for new clinics, staff, and systems  

According to Gartner, organizations with standardized IT environments scale 35% faster and at 30% lower cost than those managing custom-built systems (Gartner, 2022). That speed isn’t just technical—it accelerates revenue recognition, patient service expansion, and market adaptability. 

2. Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) 

Fragmented IT systems increase both fixed and variable costs. Licensing duplication, infrastructure sprawl, and increased support needs all drive up TCO. Many healthcare organizations continue to operate redundant systems years after a merger because the cost to “fix it later” is assumed to be lower. It rarely is. 

Standardizing IT across applications, identity, and infrastructure reduces:  

• Annual software and service contracts 
• Data center and cloud costs from redundant platforms 
• IT support headcount and tier-1 ticket volume 
• Audit preparation and compliance tooling expenses 

According to Forrester, healthcare systems that standardize identity and IT platforms reduce TCO by up to 28% over three years (Forrester, 2023).  

3. Operational Consistency and Resilience 

Post-merger, one of the biggest challenges is inconsistent user experience across facilities. Different login policies, access pathways, and interface standards create confusion for clinicians and staff—and increase the likelihood of mistakes or delays in care. 

Standardization delivers: 

• Seamless authentication across facilities 
• Consistent workflows and provisioning 
• Fewer errors due to unified system logic 
• Faster resolution of IT issues due to uniform environments  

When every user, from physicians to finance, works within the same IT framework, organizations see improved training, easier support, and reduced friction in daily operations. HIMSS reports that organizations with standardized IT processes experience 40% fewer workflow disruptions during peak operational periods (HIMSS, 2023). 

4. Long-Term Security and Compliance Gains 

Security is harder when systems are different. In a non-standardized environment, patching is inconsistent, monitoring is incomplete, and access control varies by facility or function. This creates a moving target for security and compliance teams. 
Standardized IT enables: 

• Unified access policies and identity governance 
• Centralized logging and incident response 
• Proactive patch management across all systems 
• Easier alignment with HIPAA, HITRUST, and NIST frameworks 

IBM’s 2023 breach report notes that the average cost of a data breach in healthcare is $10.93 million, but organizations with fully deployed security automation and integration see an average savings of $3.58 million per breach (IBM, 2023). IT standardization isn’t just efficient—it’s protective. 


5. Faster Innovation and Strategic Agility 

Innovation in healthcare is moving fast—AI diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, predictive analytics, and value-based care platforms are becoming mainstream. But these systems require standardized IT foundations to deploy effectively across large, distributed organizations. 

Standardization supports: 

• Easier integration of emerging technologies 
• Streamlined procurement and deployment 
• Unified data models and interoperability 
• Centralized identity and access to support secure digital health initiatives  

IDC reports that healthcare organizations with standardized IT infrastructures bring digital health innovations to market 40% faster than their peers (IDC, 2023). When the foundation is clean and connected, you can build and adapt far more quickly. 

Conclusion: Standardization Is a Strategy, Not a Project 

IT standardization often gets treated like an operational chore—something to do once the urgent fires are put out. But in healthcare M&A, standardization is a force multiplier. It reduces overhead, simplifies compliance, enables scale, and creates a platform for innovation. 
The organizations that win in the next wave of consolidation won’t just be the ones with the largest networks or best clinicians.
They’ll be the ones who move faster, operate leaner, and innovate smarter—because they laid the right technical foundation. 

Standardize to scale. Or stall trying to keep up. 

Sources: 

• Gartner, 2022. “IT Standardization as a Strategic Growth Lever in Healthcare.” 
• Forrester, 2023. “TCO Impact of Post-Merger IT Consolidation.” 
• HIMSS, 2023. “The Operational Impact of IT Variability in Healthcare.” 
• IBM Security, 2023. “Cost of a Data Breach Report.” 
• IDC, 2023. “Digital Health Acceleration Through IT Infrastructure Alignment.”