1. Ongoing uncertainty over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Even though the healthcare reform bill was upheld by the Supreme Court in June, there are still questions about what the implementation of the Act will look like. According to a Physicians Foundation survey, uncertainty over the future of health reform was one of the key factors making physicians pessimistic. Hospitals and health systems should keep their physicians updated on any developments they make in the areas of accountable care organizations and reimbursement restructuring to help maintain physician morale.
2. Consolidating. Many physicians have become employed or expressed interest in becoming employed by hospitals or health systems in 2012. However, according to The Physician Foundation, physicians are concerned about patient access and cost of care consequences affiliated with consolidation. Hospitals and systems that employ physicians should be careful about the legal ramifications that come along with their alignment strategy and make sure physician alignment strategies are designed to deliver the services and care most needed by the hospital’s patient population.
3. Preparing for 30 million new patients. In 2014, the PPACA will give roughly 30 million Americans health insurance for the first time, putting pressure on practicing physicians to provide care for new patients. This addition of patients will also exacerbate the nationwide physician shortage, which is especially pressing for primary care. Hospitals and health systems can attempt to lessen this impact by making sure they have enough care providers, even non-physician providers, to handle the influx of patients that will be coming in 12 months.
4. Losing autonomy. The Physician Foundation believes physicians are losing their ability to make independent medical judgments without non-clinical interference. To avoid this phenomenon, hospitals and health systems can attempt to streamline processes, promote physician leadership and involvement in hospital committees, and allow physicians to treat patients as independently as possible.
5. More administrative duties. Physicians have been facing more “red tape” that cuts into their time treating patients, according to The Physicians Foundation. In 2013, hospitals and health systems can work to reduce the administrative duties put on physicians so they can get back to what they are trained to do — treat patients.
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