MEDICAL STAFF: 3 models for integration with hospitals

One way that a hospital can achieve a greater degree of integration with physicians on the medical staff is to acquire physician practices.  However, this may not be realistic for all hospitals, so the authors suggest three alternative models:

• Comanagement arrangements — in which the hospital outsources a service line to a management company co-owned by physicians and the hospital
• Joint ventures
• Expand the number and types of hospital-based physicians

Examples of each of these types of arrangements are given.

Source: Fink, J.N., and Libby, D.E.  Integration without employment.  HFM. Healthcare Financial Management;66(8):55-62, Aug. 2012.  Click here for the publisher’s website: http://www.hfma.org/Publications/hfm-Magazine/Archives/2012/August/Integration-Without-Employment/  Posted by AHA Resource Center, (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org