Health organizations are consolidating in order to create economies of scale which decreases the per-unit cost of care while increasing quality of care. More health organizations are forming health systems by becoming vertically integrated, which offer consumers a one stop continuum of care model (Shay et al., 2013). Vertical integration links services that are at different stages in the process of health care. By integrating a continuum of care health organizations are able to enhance quality of patient care and sustainability, in a highly regulated and competitive marketplace. An example of vertical integration would be the organization of preventive care, primary care, acute care, and post-acute service consolidated within a hospital.
