Integration & Physician Issues

Cleveland-based University Hospitals has purchased five physician practices in the Akron, Ohio, area, according to an Akron Beacon Journal report.

What are the latest trends in physician demand, recruitment and employment? Here are five major findings from Merritt Hawkins' 2012 Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives.

The board of Miami-based Jackson Health System has voted to put 30 percent of its monthly payments to the University of Miami medical school into an escrow account, according to a Miami Herald report.

Representatives from several physician organizations testified in front of the U.S. House Small Business Committee Thursday to discuss the trend toward physician-hospital alignment and the shrinking number of small group and solo practices nationwide, according to a Bloomberg report.

Cigna has launched two new accountable care initiatives through its collaborative accountable care program.  

CMS' recent announcement of 89 new accountable care organizations participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program included Manhasset, N.Y.-based physician network Beacon Health Partners.

To develop talented physician leaders, hospital management needs to know what characteristics, skills and abilities to build upon. In his blog, Kevin Campbell, MD, a cardiologist at Wake Heart and Vascular in Raleigh, N.C., says effective physician leaders share traits…

Francisco Silva, JD, vice president and general counsel for the California Medical Association, expresses a concern of some critics that accountable care organizations could backfire in a recent HealthyCal.org report.

Pharmaceuticals can play an important role in helping to deliver value-based care and minimizing overall costs while meeting recognized standards for quality patient care, according to a recent report published in the American Journal of Managed Care.  

Patient-centered medical homes are sprouting up nationwide. More than 1,400 medical homes — in which a primary care physician usually quarterbacks care for patients with the help of a team of clinicians — have attained recognition from the National Committee…