Great leadership isn’t just about expertise or authority—it’s about empowering others, driving cultural transformation, and creating meaningful impact. Effective leaders believe that people are their biggest asset and strive to create an environment where team members feel valued, engaged, and motivated. This is especially true in healthcare, where compassionate leadership guides the organization through unique challenges. Bart Kaericher, at the helm of Aramark Healthcare+, exemplifies this modern leadership.
With over 37 years in the healthcare sector, Bart has dedicated his career to business growth and fostering strong, people-centered cultures. Under his leadership, Aramark Healthcare+ has become a trusted partner with over 1,000 clients in 47 states. As President and CEO, Bart has steered the company toward an integrated, patient-centered approach, focusing on holistic care solutions. His unwavering commitment to people and innovation has been key to Aramark Healthcare+’s success.
Let’s explore Bart’s journey, leadership philosophy, and his mission to reshape healthcare by focusing on people, innovation, and holistic solutions that extend beyond hospital walls!
A Visionary Approach to Leadership
Bart’s journey began right after college when he joined B. Braun Medical. Over the years, he worked with industry giants like Compass Group, helping grow their healthcare division significantly. His wealth of experience has provided him with the vision needed to lead Aramark Healthcare+ into a new era of growth and innovation.
Reflecting on his career, Bart highlights the importance of mentorship and people-focused leadership. “The power of mentors brought me to where I am today,” he says. This philosophy has shaped his approach to leadership—listening, learning, and growing from the collective wisdom of his team. When he took the reins at Aramark Healthcare+, he embarked on a “listening and learning tour,” gathering insights to understand the organization’s strengths and areas for improvement.
His approach is also deeply rooted in fostering a culture of empowerment. “Our culture is our greatest differentiator,” he asserts. This belief led to a rebranding initiative that transformed Aramark Healthcare into Aramark Healthcare+. The “Plus” isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s a symbolic representation of the company’s focus on people. “The Plus is all about the people,” he explains. “Our teammates are the ones who make the magic happen.” Empowering these teammates is central to the company’s success.
The People-First Culture
Central to Bart’s leadership philosophy is a radical commitment to people. He believes that a strong culture leads to strong results, and he has instilled a sense of ownership and accountability across the organization. Every team member is encouraged to see themselves as a “chief cultural officer,” reinforcing the idea that culture drives the company’s mission.
“Every one of our 20,000 teammates is responsible for our culture,” he states. “We’ve communicated that everyone plays a role in nurturing and sustaining it.” This mindset has transformed the company into an organization where each person feels empowered to make a difference. Whether it’s the food service team delivering trays to patients or the housekeeping staff ensuring clean, safe environments, every employee is encouraged to take ownership of their role in creating positive outcomes.
This people-first culture has been especially impactful in the healthcare space because employee engagement can directly affect patient care. “Healthcare is personal,” he notes. “It’s about caring for people when they are at their most vulnerable.” This understanding has driven the company to prioritize the needs of both patients and staff, recognizing that a well-supported workforce is better equipped to deliver exceptional care.
A particularly inspiring example of this philosophy in action is the story of Willie, a food service worker who delivers trays to patients. Willie goes beyond delivering food; he creates an experience. “Willie doesn’t just deliver food; he takes time to talk to patients, lift the lids with a flourish, and make sure everything is just right,” Bart shares. On one occasion, Willie noticed that a patient was having difficulty cutting her food due to arthritis. Without hesitation, he offered to cut her meal into smaller pieces so she could eat comfortably. “That’s what empowerment looks like,” Bart says. “Willie saw a need, took ownership, and made a real difference in that patient’s day.”
These small, yet powerful, moments are celebrated across the company, serving as reminders of the impact each employee can have. “There are many Willies in our company,” Bart remarks. “These moments are what define us.”
Transforming Healthcare with a Holistic Approach
Bart’s vision for Aramark Healthcare+ extends beyond hospital walls. Historically, the company offered services like food, cleaning, and patient transportation within hospitals. However, Bart recognized an opportunity to expand beyond those walls, creating “total healthcare solutions.”
“When a patient is discharged, we used to say, ‘Good luck,’ and that was it,” Bart recalls. “But we realized that wasn’t enough. We care too much to stop there.” This insight led to a transformation in how the company approaches healthcare. Instead of focusing only on in-hospital services, the company now follows patients from admission through discharge and beyond, ensuring they receive the support they need to continue healing once they leave the hospital.
The organization also offers a variety of services to help patients coordinate post-discharge instructions, from coordinating nutrition and pharmaceutical needs post-discharge to arranging transportation and primary care follow-up. This approach has not only improved patient outcomes but has also reduced hospital readmissions, benefiting both patients and hospitals.
In addition to expanding care outside hospital walls, the company has entered new service areas such as ambulatory surgical centers and senior living facilities. These expansions reflect the broader vision of providing comprehensive healthcare solutions that meet the changing needs of the industry. “Healthcare is moving outside the hospital, and we want to be there for patients wherever they are,” he states.
When Bart took over as CEO, the company offered six services. Today, that number has grown to nine, with plans to expand further. “We want to be the trusted partner for our clients, offering a wide range of solutions to improve patient care and operational efficiency,” he shares.
Empowered People Make the Difference
The success of Aramark Healthcare+ is closely tied to the empowerment of its employees. By fostering a culture of ownership and accountability, the company has created an environment where innovation thrives, and employees are encouraged to bring their ideas forward.
In a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, where patient needs and hospital dynamics are constantly evolving, this culture of empowerment is crucial. “We ask our employees to be world-class observers,” Bart says. “We want them to notice what’s going on with patients and caregivers and bring those insights back so we can develop solutions.” This approach has not only improved the quality of care but also led to the development of innovative services and solutions.
Bart emphasizes the importance of listening to the people closest to the work, as they often have the best insights for improvement. “Our employees are on the front lines every day,” he explains. “They know the challenges, and they have great ideas for overcoming them.” This culture of empowerment has driven significant improvements in the company’s operations and patient care outcomes, and even earned the business industry recognition.
In 2024, Aramark Healthcare+ was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare. This prestigious award highlights the company’s commitment to creating a positive work environment and increasing employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention through innovative workplace changes. This recognition is a testament to the company’s dedication to its employees and its mission to promote the total wellbeing of every person it serves.
“Being recognized by Modern Healthcare as a Best Places to Work in Healthcare was a true honor and a testament to who our employees are as people. They work together to achieve great things and fulfill our purpose of promoting the total wellbeing of every person we serve, and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Bart.
Embracing Technology to Drive Innovation
Bart’s leadership has also driven the company to embrace technology while maintaining the personal touch that defines its culture. “We talk about being a ‘high-touch, high-tech’ organization,” Bart says. “We want to use technology to improve our services, but never at the expense of the personal connections our employees bring to their work.”
As Aramark Healthcare+ is committed to staying ahead of industry trends and finding new ways to support hospitals and patients. One key trend is the increasing demand for outpatient care and telehealth services, as more procedures are being performed outside the traditional hospital setting.
The organization is positioning itself to meet these needs by offering solutions that help hospitals manage patient flow and capacity. “We’re constantly figuring out how we can help hospitals run more efficiently while still providing high-quality care,” he explains. “Telehealth is one area where we’ve been able to make a big impact.”
For example, the company has used telehealth to connect registered dietitians with patients in remote areas, allowing for consultations that would have otherwise been difficult to arrange. “We had a remote hospital in Texas that struggled to find a registered dietitian,” Bart shares. “But when we introduced telehealth, we received 40 resumes in two weeks. It opened up a whole new pool of talent for us.”
As Aramark Healthcare+ expands its service offerings and enters new areas of healthcare, the organization remains committed to providing high-quality care that supports both patients and healthcare providers. Bart and his team continue to focus on innovation and technology, combined with a people-first approach, positioning Aramark Healthcare+ as a best-in-class leader in the healthcare solutions space.
