Consolidation in healthcare has been the trend for many years, and it shows no sign of abating as provider organizations look to redesign care delivery models and prepare for the shift toward population health management and value-based purchasing. For those institutions that have already undertaken an acquisition, many challenges exist, including merging IT infrastructures, blending different organizational cultures, and balancing local versus corporate control. With so much at stake during the transition process, senior leaders have to set and execute the right plan in order to achieve the goals of the acquisition. HealthLeaders Media recently joined with four executives for an in-depth conversation on the trends that are driving acquisitions and the steps that are needed to ensure successful integration once the transaction is complete.