Clinical Integration & Physician Alignment
M. Shane Foreman
Principal & Founder
3d Health
All hospitals and health systems must be focused on two primary goals – overhaul the clinical enterprise and integrate with physicians in order to do it. What that looks like will vary from market to market and client to client.
According to the American Hospital Association, "clinical integration is needed to facilitate the coordination of patient care across conditions, providers, settings, and time in order to achieve care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-focused." This vision of clinical integration is hard to argue with, but very difficult to achieve.
CMS has been clear on their three-part aim of "better care for individuals, better health for populations, and lower growth in expenditures." All of the business models being discussed assume a dramatic change in how healthcare is delivered – increased quality through evidence-based medicine at a lower or slower-rising cost.
It is clear that hospitals and health systems must figure out the best way to align with physicians to re-define the clinical enterprise in a way that work best for them and their patients. We believe that the degree and vehicle for clinical integration will vary wildly by organization and market.
3d Health has a long history of assisting hospitals and health systems in successfully developing clinical integration and physician alignment strategies. Whether the answer lies within "PHO 2.0," large employed physician bases, the next generation medical staff, or partnering with a successful IPA, clinical integration as a medium for changing the delivery of care is a must in the post-reform era.
3d Health is currently working with clients to complete market-based clinical integration readiness assessments as well as develop the resulting strategies and vehicles.
We assist our clients with:
- Physician alignment strategy
- PHO development
- ACO development
- Clinical institute development
- Employed physician network development
- Practice Acquisitions
- Deal structuring
- Governance structure
- Management approach
