Integration & Physician Issues

A survey of roughly 1,700 hospitals found 13 percent are either participating in or planning to participate in an accountable care organization in the next year, but only 50 percent of those reported that they have the financial strength and…

The number of patients visiting retail clinics has rocketed from 1.48 million in 2006 to 5.97 million in 2009 — more than a fourfold increase, according to a new study from Health Affairs.

The time for hospitals to attract physicians from the 2013 graduate pool is now, as these residents and fellows are considering their ideal practice location.

Medicare accountable care organizations are receiving a lot of publicity, but Medicaid ACOs are beginning to take form as well, as seven states are working to develop and launch their own Medicaid ACOs, according to a Commonwealth Fund blog post.

The U.S. healthcare system is shifting dramatically, and for hospital executives and physician leaders, there are not many certainties they can hang their coats on.

Despite the prevalence of pay-for-performance compensation in healthcare, a new editorial in the British Journal of Medicine suggests the concept "rests on flawed assumptions about medicine, measurement and motivation" and may encourage providers to game the system.

Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin are linking up for a new health plan designed to improve employees' healthcare experiences while offering a price guarantee to employers, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel…

Optimus Healthcare Partners — a New Jersey accountable care organization founded by Summit-based Vista Health System IPA and Central Jersey Physician Network — has partnered with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for a new ACO agreement covering…

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund, "Accountable Care Strategies: Lessons from the Premier Health Care Alliance's Accountable Care Collaborative," explores the various organizational models and compensation options for ACOs.

As hospitals and physicians continue the trend toward alignment, integration and the creation of accountable care organizations, there are a number of considerations hospital executives should include in their discussions with regards to the running of clinical trials. Some institutions…