Should the hospital have economic relationships that help drive common goals and expectations between it and key physicians?
Employment and joint ventures are the two primary economic models for hospital and physician integration. Despite losses suffered in the 1990s as organizations pursued integration strategies, we are still seeing a growing trend in physician employment by hospitals. What’s behind this trend? The first motivating factor is the demand for specialists. Organizations perceive that hiring them is the best way to ensure their availability in the community and in the emergency department as well. The second integration model is the joint venture. An organization should first define under what, if any, circumstances should it consider such efforts– for all services, new services, services of strategic importance, or simply when the hospital is forced into it. The board must address the issue as part of the medical staff strategic planning processes. 7. Do you have attractive office space that will allow physicians to practice close to the hospital? A physician’s primary assets are knowledge an
