Small, rural hospitals take a very different approach to physician alignment than their large, urban counterparts, according to new survey data from Kurt Salmon and the Community Hospital 100.
For instance, large urban hospitals pursue physician alignment to prepare for risk-based payments and to boost their population health management strategies. Small rural hospitals, on the other hand, align with physicians as a way to grow referrals.
Additionally, large urban hospitals are three times more likely to participate in joint ventures, clinical co-management arrangements, clinically integrated networks and other similar physician affiliations than small rural hospitals.