After a hospital or health system acquires a physician practice, it's necessary to establish a strategic plan for where the practice will go and how it will get there, according to a report by Jim Doty, senior principal for physician strategies and services at national healthcare network VHA.
Here are five of Mr. Doty's recommendations for healthcare organizations looking to foster a collaborative process when integrating physician practices into a hospital or health system's business plan.
1. Create strategic models to accommodate physicians' needs. These models should take into account independent physicians, employed physicians and clinically-integrated networks.
2. Develop plans to serve communities. Focus on using the hospital or health systems' core competencies and capabilities to serve the patient.
3. Establish a precise, detailed financial plan. This will serve as part of the healthcare organization's total business plan.
4. Create action plans. These should include established deliverables, accountability and deadlines.
5. Develop a one-year business plan. Looking ahead at least one year is a key part of the annual budget process.
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