OSF HealthCare + FG: Transforming Telecom Spend Into Strategic Value Through BuyBetter
As one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the Midwest, OSF HealthCare manages a vast network of hospitals, clinics, and support facilities across Illinois and Michigan. Its growing digital infrastructure supports thousands of clinical applications, from Epic and telehealth to advanced imaging and call center operations. But beneath that connectivity was a challenge shared by many large healthcare organizations—an increasingly complex web of carrier contracts, outdated services, and uncontrolled costs.
The Challenge
Over time, OSF’s carrier environment had become fragmented and inefficient. Each hospital or clinic negotiated services independently, leading to duplicate circuits, inconsistent pricing, and little visibility into total spend. Long-term carrier contracts made it difficult to adjust as technology evolved.
The result: OSF was paying premium rates for underperforming services—without the flexibility or data transparency needed to manage them strategically.
“It wasn’t that our network wasn’t working—it just wasn’t optimized. We had too many services, too many vendors, and not enough insight into what we were truly paying for.”
— Dr. David Hall, CIO, OSF HealthCare
The FG Solution: BuyBetter
OSF partnered with FG to bring structure, expertise, and transparency to its telecom ecosystem through BuyBetter—FG’s carrier management service.
FG began by conducting a full carrier inventory and cost analysis, mapping every circuit, connection, and billing line item across OSF’s enterprise. From there, FG:
- Consolidated multiple carrier agreements into unified, strategically negotiated contracts.
- Identified and eliminated unused or redundant circuits.
- Introduced a managed renewal process to ensure continuous price benchmarking.
- Leveraged deep carrier relationships to secure more favorable pricing and terms.
- Integrated telecom expense management into FG’s client platform for ongoing visibility.
The Results
Within the first year, OSF achieved substantial cost reductions and operational improvements:
- Over $1M in savings in the first year (13.2% of annual budget)
Since that time and over the last 10 years, and while OSF grew from 7 to 17 hospitals and net patient revenue by 133%, OSF realized:
- $10 million in total carrier management savings.
- 26% reduction in telecom spend across the system.
- Centralized control of all carrier contracts and billing.
- Faster issue resolution through FG’s carrier escalation and advocacy process.
“All other costs across healthcare are rising—but our telecom costs continue to decrease. FG’s approach isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about building sustainability into how we buy, manage, and plan for network services.”
— Dr. David Hall, CIO, OSF HealthCare
The Impact on Growth
These savings empowered OSF to redirect dollars toward innovation—funding new telehealth infrastructure, expanding digital health access in rural markets, and supporting the integration of new hospitals into the network. With FG’s continued management, OSF maintains a proactive, data-driven approach to telecom—transforming what was once a cost center into a strategic enabler of patient care.
“FG helps us make smarter decisions, not just cheaper ones. Their team feels like an extension of ours—responsive, transparent, and committed to our mission.”
— Dr. David Hall, CIO, OSF HealthCare