The Chartis Group is a leading healthcare advisory and analytics firm that specializes in helping healthcare organizations navigate complex challenges related to strategy, performance, technology, and transformation. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Chartis serves a wide range of clients, including academic medical centers, health systems, hospitals, physician groups, and payers across the United States.
Chartis offers services in strategy development, digital and technology transformation, clinical performance improvement, advanced analytics, mergers and acquisitions, and provider enterprise optimization. The firm is known for combining deep healthcare expertise with data-driven insights and a collaborative approach that delivers measurable outcomes.
In 2022, The Chartis Group acquired Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, a healthcare strategic communications firm, and HealthScape Advisors, further expanding its capabilities in communications and payer advisory services. These moves have strengthened Chartis’ position as a full-spectrum consulting partner in the healthcare sector.
What sets Chartis apart is its exclusive focus on healthcare and its reputation for thought leadership, including regular publications, webinars, and industry insights that shape strategic conversations within the sector.
History and Evolution
The Chartis Group was founded in 2001 with a bold mission: to materially improve the delivery of healthcare. It began as a small, purpose-driven consultancy (famously starting out of a modest apartment) focused on advising healthcare providers, especially leading hospitals and academic medical centers. Over the ensuing two decades, the firm experienced significant growth and broadened its scope. In 2012, Chartis received an investment from Riordan, Lewis & Haden (RLH Equity Partners), which provided capital to expand its capabilities. This period saw Chartis develop robust analytics and strategy services and complete key acquisitions such as iVantage Health Analytics in 2015, adding data-driven decision support tools to its offerings.
Chartis continued to evolve through strategic acquisitions. In 2018, it acquired Oncology Solutions, enhancing its expertise in cancer care consulting. The following year, Chartis acquired The Greeley Company (2019), a well-known clinical quality and compliance consulting firm, which expanded Chartis’s offerings in medical staff services, regulatory compliance, and interim leadership staffing. Also in 2019, Chartis underwent a pivotal ownership change: it was acquired by Audax Private Equity, a move that officially made Chartis part of the Audax portfolio. Backed by Audax’s resources, Chartis accelerated a “buy-and-build” growth strategy, integrating several add-on firms to broaden its services and enter new healthcare segments.
One of the most significant additions came in late 2020 when Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock (Jarrard Inc.) joined The Chartis Group. Jarrard is a Nashville-based top healthcare communications and change management consultancy. The merger (structured as an acquisition) brought deep expertise in strategic communications, issue navigation, and change management to Chartis. By combining Jarrard’s communication prowess with Chartis’s strategy and analytics, the firm enhanced its ability to drive transformative change and ensure stakeholder alignment for clients. Jarrard has continued to operate under its own brand as “Jarrard, a Chartis company,” contributing its strengths in healthcare public relations and crisis communications to the Chartis family.
Chartis further expanded into the payer consulting arena with acquisitions like crankfrog in 2022 – a fast-growing national payer advisory firm – and the addition of HealthScape Advisors in early 2024, a Chicago-based consulting firm specializing in health insurance and payer strategy. These moves solidified Chartis’s ability to serve health insurance companies and facilitate payer-provider convergence strategies. The firm also established new initiatives such as the Chartis Just Health Collective in 2022 by partnering with an external boutique (Just Health Collective) to focus on health equity and belonging in healthcare organizations.
By 2024, The Chartis Group had grown into a leading independent healthcare consultancy known for its comprehensive services. In mid-2024, Blackstone Inc. agreed to acquire a majority stake in Chartis from Audax, signaling another milestone in the firm’s evolution. Under this deal (expected to close by late 2024), Blackstone’s funds became the primary owner, with Audax retaining a minority equity stake. This transition is aimed at supporting Chartis’s next phase of growth. After more than two decades since its founding, Chartis has rebranded simply as “Chartis” (dropping “The Chartis Group”) to reflect a unified identity across its expanding business units. Today, Chartis stands as a family of companies – including Chartis Consulting, Jarrard Inc., Greeley, HealthScape Advisors, and others – all aligned under the mission of healthcare transformation. The firm’s journey from a small start-up to a private equity-backed industry leader illustrates its continual evolution through strategic growth and an unwavering focus on improving healthcare.
Leadership and Key Figures
Chartis’s development has been shaped by several key leaders and visionaries. Ken Graboys, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, has been the driving force behind the firm’s mission and culture since inception. Prior to founding Chartis, Graboys had a background in healthcare consulting (as a senior partner at CSC Healthcare/APM) and envisioned building a values-driven firm dedicated exclusively to healthcare. Under his leadership, Chartis established a reputation for client service and thought leadership. Ethan Arnold, the other co-founder, has served as a Managing Partner and has been instrumental in strategy and operations of the firm. Together, Graboys and Arnold set the tone for Chartis’s collaborative and impact-focused culture.
Another founding partner, Chris Regan, helped shape the firm’s early strategic advisory practices and continues in a senior leadership role, co-leading key practices like partnerships and M&A advisory. Over the years, Chartis built out a seasoned executive team. Greg Maddrey, for example, is the President of Chartis and has been a key figure in expanding the firm’s offerings and national presence. Maddrey oversees day-to-day consulting operations and has played a significant role in integrating acquisitions and developing new service lines.
With the acquisition of Jarrard Inc., David Jarrard (CEO of Jarrard Inc.) also became an important leader within the Chartis enterprise. David Jarrard continues to lead the strategic communications arm, ensuring that the communications and change management expertise is fully interwoven with Chartis’s consulting engagements. Similarly, after the acquisition of HealthScape Advisors, its leader Kyle Stern joined Chartis’s leadership to head the payer consulting division, and Atul Pathiyal, founder of crankfrog, took on a leadership role directing Chartis’s payer practice.
Chartis’s leadership extends to specialized domains as well. For instance, Michael Topchik leads the Chartis Center for Rural Health and is recognized for expertise in rural healthcare analytics and policy. Duane Reynolds, who founded Just Health Collective, became President of Chartis Just Health Collective, guiding Chartis’s efforts in health equity transformation. These individuals, along with numerous partners and practice leaders, have shaped Chartis’s capabilities and reputation. The firm also benefits from governance and guidance by its private equity sponsors – Audax and now Blackstone – though the day-to-day direction remains with Chartis’s management team. Collectively, Chartis’s leadership is known for deep industry experience, a mission-oriented mindset, and a commitment to innovation in healthcare consulting.
Industry Sectors Served
Chartis is exclusively focused on the healthcare industry, serving a broad spectrum of sectors within it. Its client base includes healthcare providers of all types – from large integrated health systems and academic medical centers to community hospitals, children’s hospitals, and physician groups. Chartis has longstanding relationships advising top academic medical centers and teaching hospitals on strategy, performance improvement, and clinical transformation. It also works extensively with nonprofit health systems, regional hospital networks, and specialty providers (such as oncology centers and post-acute care organizations).
Beyond providers, Chartis serves payers and health insurance organizations. Through its HealthScape Advisors and crankfrog units, the firm works with commercial insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid plans, Blue Cross/Blue Shield organizations, and emerging payer models. It provides guidance on health plan strategy, product development (e.g., Medicare Advantage offerings), value-based care arrangements, operational efficiency, and technology solutions for payers. Chartis often helps payers navigate industry changes and advises on partnerships between payers and provider systems.
Chartis also caters to the health services and healthcare technology sector. This includes advising digital health companies, health IT firms, and technology innovators looking to enter or expand in the healthcare market. For example, Chartis assists health tech startups or established tech companies (even retail entrants) with strategies to align their products with provider needs or to navigate the complex healthcare regulatory environment. Retail healthcare and new entrants are another client category – companies like retail pharmacy chains, big-box retailers, or consumer brands that are moving into care delivery often seek Chartis’s expertise to develop viable healthcare delivery models and patient engagement strategies.
In addition, Chartis works with investors and private equity firms that focus on healthcare. The firm provides due diligence services, market research, and strategic assessments for investors evaluating healthcare acquisitions. It has advised private equity and venture investors on trends in provider consolidation, health tech innovation, and payer markets. Some of Chartis’s engagements involve guiding M&A transactions, hospital partnerships, and system integrations – roles that leverage its insight across both provider and payer domains.
Geographically, while Chartis’s work is primarily in the United States, its sector coverage is national and cuts across urban and rural healthcare. The firm has developed particular expertise in rural health (through its rural health center) and in academic medicine, but overall serves “the healthcare ecosystem” broadly. From large academic hospitals to small critical access hospitals, from national insurers to regional health plans, and from digital health startups to retail clinics, Chartis’s advisory services span the continuum of care. This diverse client mix enables Chartis to facilitate collaboration across sectors – for instance, advising on payer-provider convergence and helping health systems work effectively with technology partners. In summary, Chartis’s industry focus is comprehensive within healthcare: providers, payers, life sciences and health services companies, public health entities, and investors all fall within its client portfolio.
Consulting Methodologies and Delivery Model
Chartis is known for a consulting approach that is data-driven, collaborative, and tailored to the complex needs of healthcare organizations. A distinctive element of Chartis’s methodology is its integration of analytics and advisory services. The firm leverages proprietary analytic tools and research (enhanced by the acquisition of iVantage and development of in-house data capabilities) to inform its recommendations. Whether it’s using performance benchmarking for a hospital, financial modeling for a new service line, or market analytics for a payer strategy, Chartis grounds its advice in evidence and rigorous analysis.
Another hallmark of the Chartis delivery model is its cross-functional teams. Project teams often include experts from multiple disciplines – strategy consultants, clinicians, data scientists, technology specialists, and communication experts – reflecting the interconnected nature of healthcare challenges. For example, a client engagement to improve patient care delivery might involve strategists mapping out new care models, physicians advising on clinical best practices, and Jarrard communications consultants planning the change management and stakeholder messaging. This integrated team approach ensures that solutions are not only theoretically sound but also operationally feasible and embraced by the client’s organization.
Chartis emphasizes close collaboration with clients, often working on-site alongside hospital or health plan leadership to drive change. Rather than just delivering a report, Chartis consultants typically partner with client teams through implementation. The firm’s methodology is often described as hands-on and “results-driven” – setting up governance structures, tracking performance metrics, and adjusting tactics to ensure that strategic plans yield tangible outcomes. In addition, through its Greeley business unit, Chartis can provide implementation support services such as interim management (for example, placing an interim chief medical officer or helping staff a project management office) and specialized consulting on compliance and credentialing processes. This combination of strategic advice and practical implementation support is a defining feature of Chartis’s model.
Change management and stakeholder engagement are woven into Chartis’s methodologies as well. With Jarrard Inc. as part of the team, Chartis often employs robust communications strategies to accompany technical solutions. For instance, during a major hospital restructuring or a merger integration, Chartis will not only design the new operating model but also craft the communications plan to get physicians, staff, patients, and the community on board. The consulting approach recognizes that culture and adoption are critical to success in healthcare transformation. Thus, methodologies like stakeholder interviews, town hall facilitation, and leadership coaching play a role in many Chartis engagements.
Furthermore, Chartis has developed specialized frameworks and practice areas for recurring client needs. These include strategic planning frameworks for health systems, financial turnaround methodologies (using a “stabilize and transform” approach to rapidly improve a hospital’s financial performance), and innovation models for digital health (helping organizations move from pilot projects to scaled digital solutions). The firm’s Centers for Research and Advancement (such as those focusing on rural health, health equity, and burnout solutions) also inform its consulting methods with the latest thought leadership and benchmarks. Overall, Chartis’s delivery model is holistic – combining strategy, operations, finance, clinical insight, technology, and human factors – to deliver end-to-end solutions. This approach has contributed to Chartis consistently earning top marks in client satisfaction (including “Best in KLAS” rankings for healthcare management consulting), as it addresses the full spectrum of client challenges from concept through execution.
Notable Client Projects and Engagements
Over the years, The Chartis Group has led numerous high-impact projects across the healthcare landscape. While many client engagements are confidential, several signature projects and outcomes are publicly recognized. For example, Chartis has guided major academic medical centers through enterprise-wide transformations. In one instance, an academic health system engaged Chartis to redesign its care delivery across multiple hospitals and faculty practice groups. Chartis’s team helped the system develop a new operating model that centralized key service lines, implemented value-based care initiatives, and improved financial performance. As a result, the client achieved multi-million dollar cost savings and higher quality-of-care metrics, positioning it as a national leader in integrated care.
Another notable area of work is Chartis’s involvement in establishing and scaling Hospital-at-Home programs. As healthcare began shifting toward more care in the home, Chartis assisted a large regional health system (for example, Virtua Health, as has been noted in industry publications) in designing a home hospital program. Chartis’s consultants crafted the strategy and operational plan for treating certain acute patients at home, coordinated the necessary technology and remote monitoring solutions, and integrated the program with the client’s inpatient workflow. The engagement was a success: the health system saw improvements in patient satisfaction and outcomes, and it became a model for hospital-at-home implementation that other providers have emulated.
Chartis has also played a key role in merger and acquisition support among healthcare organizations. In one signature engagement, Chartis advised on the merger of two prominent health systems. The firm led the planning for clinical service line integration, facilitated discussions on governance structure for the new entity, and built the financial models to identify synergy opportunities. Additionally, Chartis (with Jarrard’s help) managed communications to stakeholders about the merger’s vision. This contributed to a smooth merger execution, ultimately creating one of the larger nonprofit health systems in the region with a unified strategic plan.
In the payer sector, Chartis (through HealthScape Advisors and crankfrog) has helped health plans innovate and expand. A notable project involved assisting a mid-sized insurer in developing a Medicare Advantage growth strategy. Chartis’s team analyzed market demographics, helped design new insurance products tailored to underserved seniors, and improved the plan’s provider network strategy. The outcome was a successful launch of a new Medicare Advantage plan that rapidly grew membership and improved the insurer’s competitive position. Similarly, Chartis has consulted for state Medicaid agencies and payer-provider collaborations to design value-based payment programs that encourage better care at lower cost.
The firm’s work in rural healthcare is also distinctive. Through the Chartis Center for Rural Health, it has provided advisory support to many rural hospitals facing financial distress. For instance, Chartis consultants were engaged by a rural community hospital at risk of closure; they performed an in-depth performance assessment and implemented a turnaround plan. The plan included right-sizing service lines, establishing telehealth partnerships with larger systems, and securing grant funding. This effort helped stabilize the hospital’s finances and preserve access to care in that community. Moreover, Chartis publishes annual lists of Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals based on performance data, and several hospitals have publicly credited Chartis’s guidance in helping them achieve recognition on that list.
Other engagements span virtually every niche of healthcare. Chartis has helped children’s hospitals improve patient access, advised academic research institutes on aligning their strategic investments, and partnered with large employers to develop direct contracting healthcare arrangements. It has even worked with retail health clinics to optimize their care delivery processes. Many of these projects are considered “signature” because of their complexity and impact – such as drastically reducing clinical variation to improve quality, implementing electronic health record systems alongside process redesign, or orchestrating multi-year transformation programs. In all cases, Chartis’s projects are defined by measurable outcomes: improved quality scores, better patient experience, financial improvement, growth in market share, or successful adoption of innovations. These successful engagements have cemented Chartis’s reputation as a go-to advisor for tackling the most challenging and transformative initiatives in healthcare.
Geographic Footprint and Operational Reach
Chartis is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has a nationwide reach with offices and teams across the United States. The firm’s major office locations include Chicago, Boston, New York, and San Francisco, where many of its consultants and practice leaders are based. These offices support clients in their respective regions and beyond. In addition to the main offices, Chartis has a presence in other cities through its affiliate companies: for instance, Jarrard Inc. is based in Nashville, Tennessee (a hub for healthcare communications), and The Greeley Company has roots in the Boston area. Chartis also has personnel in Washington, D.C., given the importance of healthcare policy, and consultants often embedded in various client locations.
While Chartis’s work is primarily focused on the U.S. healthcare system, its operational reach is effectively national. The firm serves clients in all 50 states, from large urban academic medical centers to rural community hospitals in remote areas. Consultants frequently travel to client sites, and Chartis prides itself on local understanding – whether it’s the competitive landscape of healthcare in California or the challenges of rural hospitals in the Midwest. Through the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the firm has engaged with many rural communities and state healthcare organizations, further extending its footprint into underserved areas.
In terms of global reach, Chartis historically has concentrated on the United States market, which aligns with its mission to improve U.S. healthcare delivery. However, its insights and research sometimes influence international discussions, and the firm has occasionally advised international clients or collaborations (for example, global health companies or foreign investment firms looking at U.S. healthcare assets). Additionally, with a new majority owner in Blackstone (a global investment firm) and as healthcare becomes more globalized, Chartis’s perspective may increasingly have international relevance. Some Chartis consultants bring experience from global consulting firms and can apply best practices from other countries when applicable.
Operationally, Chartis employs over 1,000 professionals across its offices (as of mid-2024), making it one of the larger independent healthcare consultancies. The size of the firm and distribution of offices allow Chartis to field teams quickly and scale up for large engagements anywhere in the country. It also fosters a networked model – for instance, specialized expertise from a partner in San Francisco (say in digital health) can be deployed to assist a client led out of the Chicago office. The company’s infrastructure supports virtual collaboration as well, something that has become crucial in recent years; teams often work remotely across regions and then convene on-site as needed.
In summary, Chartis has a national footprint anchored by key offices in major cities and augmented by its affiliate brands’ locations. It maintains a deep presence in local markets through client work and has the capability to support healthcare organizations coast-to-coast. While not a global firm in the traditional sense, Chartis has built an expansive operational reach within the United States, which is reflective of its focus on the unique complexities of the U.S. healthcare system.
Career Progression and Development at Chartis
Chartis offers a well-defined career progression path typical of top consulting firms, combined with a supportive development culture. For entry-level professionals, Chartis typically has roles such as Associate Consultant (often filled by recent graduates or those with a few years of healthcare experience) or Analyst in certain practice areas. After gaining experience and demonstrating performance, individuals progress to the Consultant level, where they take on greater responsibility in managing workstreams and analyses for client projects. Following this, the next step is often Engagement Manager (or Project Manager), a role in which consultants lead entire project teams and are the day-to-day manager for client engagements. Engagement Managers coordinate the work of associates and consultants, interface regularly with client leadership, and ensure project objectives are met.
Beyond the manager level, high performers may be promoted to senior roles such as Associate Principal or Associate Partner (titles can vary; sometimes Chartis uses terms like Vice President or Director for these mid-senior roles). In these positions, individuals start contributing to business development, thought leadership, and firm management in addition to leading multiple engagements. The pinnacle of the consulting track at Chartis is the Partner (or Principal) level. Partners at Chartis are owners and leaders of the firm who oversee client relationships, drive growth in practice areas, and mentor the next generation of consultants. They are often nationally recognized experts in their domains (e.g., strategy, finance, digital health, etc.) and are responsible for upholding the firm’s mission and values.
Advancement through these ranks tends to follow a roughly merit-based timeline. Chartis has been known for relatively fast promotions compared to some larger consultancies, with clear performance criteria. A common progression might be two to three years from Associate Consultant to Consultant, another few years to Engagement Manager, and so forth, though individual timelines vary. Importantly, Chartis does not impose an “up-or-out” policy as rigidly as some firms; it emphasizes developing people at a pace that suits their growth, within a collaborative environment rather than a competitive one. The firm’s culture is often described as highly collaborative and values-driven, which translates into mentorship and support rather than internal rivalries.
In terms of professional development, Chartis invests significantly in training and learning programs. New hires go through onboarding training that introduces them to the firm’s methodologies, tools, and the healthcare industry context. Throughout one’s career, Chartis provides formal training sessions at key milestones (for instance, training for new managers on leadership and project management, or workshops for senior consultants on advanced analytics or presentation skills). The firm also encourages informal learning through mentorship: junior consultants are paired with senior mentors who guide their development. Knowledge sharing is fostered via internal forums and practice group meetings where consultants discuss case studies and emerging trends.
Chartis has been known to support continuing education – for example, offering tuition reimbursement or flexible scheduling for employees pursuing MBAs, MPH degrees, or professional certifications relevant to healthcare. The firm also frequently brings in industry leaders for seminars and provides access to conferences or research opportunities, ensuring its team stays at the forefront of healthcare knowledge.
Regarding compensation, publicly available data and reports indicate that Chartis offers competitive packages comparable to other consulting firms of its size. Base salaries for entry-level consultants (Associate Consultants) are often in the range of the high $80,000s to low $100,000s per year. Consultants and Engagement Managers earn well into six figures; an Engagement Manager, for instance, might have total compensation in the range of $180,000 or more (including performance bonus). At the Partner level, compensation can be quite substantial, often comprised of a base salary and profit-sharing or bonus that can bring total pay into the high six or seven figures depending on firm performance. Chartis’s bonus structure rewards both individual performance and the firm’s overall success, reflecting its team-oriented culture.
Beyond pay, Chartis has gained recognition for its positive workplace environment. The company has repeatedly been named among Modern Healthcare’s “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” Employees often cite the firm’s strong sense of mission, approachable leadership, and work-life balance initiatives (relative to the consulting industry) as attractive features. To support career sustainability, Chartis offers programs such as sabbaticals or personal development time, and its Centers (like the Chartis Center for Burnout Solutions) even provide internal resources to ensure consultant well-being. The career model at Chartis is therefore not only about upward progression in title, but also holistic development – fostering healthcare expertise, consulting skills, and leadership capabilities in its people, while rewarding them with competitive compensation and a meaningful work experience.
Notable Thought Leadership and Research Initiatives
Thought leadership is a core part of The Chartis Group’s identity, as the firm strives to influence and inform the future of healthcare beyond just its client engagements. Chartis regularly produces research reports, white papers, and analysis on the most pressing topics in healthcare. Many of these are published on its website and presented at industry conferences. For example, Chartis has a series of annual studies addressing the state of rural healthcare in America. Through the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the firm publishes the “Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals” and “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals” lists each year, using a comprehensive performance index. These rankings and the underlying analysis have become a benchmark for rural hospital excellence and are often cited by news outlets and healthcare associations. Additionally, Chartis releases vulnerability studies on rural hospitals, highlighting how many facilities are at financial risk – these studies have raised awareness nationally about the rural health safety net and have been referenced in policy discussions.
Another significant area of thought leadership is healthcare transformation and innovation. Chartis experts frequently write about how healthcare providers can navigate disruptive trends such as digital health, telemedicine expansion, and consumerism in healthcare. The firm has published frameworks on digital transformation – for instance, outlining how hospitals can develop digital front doors, or how health systems can incorporate “hospital-at-home” models effectively (drawing from its project experiences). In the realm of financial sustainability, Chartis researchers have produced reports on addressing rising costs, improving revenue cycle management, and transitioning to value-based care models, offering frameworks that many hospitals and clinics have adopted.
Chartis also contributes to thought leadership in health equity and diversity through its Chartis Just Health Collective. Under the leadership of Duane Reynolds, this arm of Chartis has generated insights into creating equitable healthcare organizations. They have published playbooks and guides for health system executives on how to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into strategic planning and patient care delivery. One notable publication analyzed how various U.S. states have advanced health equity through policy and healthcare initiatives, providing a roadmap for other states and health systems to follow. This reflects Chartis’s commitment to not only advise clients on equity but also lead broader industry learning on the topic of eliminating disparities.
Moreover, Chartis maintains a robust Insights section with articles addressing timely issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Chartis’s thought leaders provided analysis on managing through the crisis, insights on the pandemic’s impact on elective surgeries and financial health of providers, and strategies for vaccine rollout from an operational perspective. The firm’s consultants also often collaborate with external organizations for research. Chartis has partnered with groups like the American Hospital Association, National Rural Health Association, or KLAS Research to survey healthcare executives and publish joint reports. For instance, a Chartis-sponsored survey of CEOs might reveal trends in strategic priorities (growth, partnership, digital innovation, etc.), and these findings are shared in industry publications.
In terms of intellectual property, Chartis has developed certain frameworks and models that are widely recognized. One example is its approach to strategic planning for healthcare providers, which integrates scenario planning with community needs assessments – a model that has been referenced in health administration literature. Another is its High-Reliability Organization (HRO) framework for clinical quality, advising hospitals on becoming highly reliable in safety and quality outcomes (often drawing on methodologies from industries like aviation and adapting them to healthcare). The firm also frequently addresses the convergence of healthcare sectors; its thought leadership on payer-provider convergence and retail health strategies has been influential for organizations trying to innovate care delivery.
