Page 14 - SF HOSPITAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2020

HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Physician Relations 2020

Every year the ACHE publishes the delivery system, the “latest and greatest” tion for anticipated cians was successful in creat-
results of a study they conduct that iden- at the time that was initially adopted and changes in reimburse- ing a new revenue stream
tifies the “Top Issues Confronting pursued in California. The idea behind ment. Today, reimburse- based on the billable services
Hospitals.” This study surveys hospital the integrated delivery system model was ment could be a primary they can provide. Physician
CEOs who are asked to rank 11 issues the establishment of a healthcare deliv- driver for the aggressive productivity must remain a
affecting their hospitals in order of prior- ery system capable of providing “cradle acquisition posture priority with physicians and
ity. For most of my career as a healthcare to grave” services to an employer under adapted by hospitals. management collaborating in
executive and hospital CEO, the issue of a capitation reimbursement scheme. This What hospital CEO wish- an effort to maximize physi-
“physician-hospital relations” always approach could bypass traditional payers es to negotiate with cian revenue. Hospital leader-
found its way to be a top three issue. In who for obvious reasons were not sup- orthopedic surgeons on BY SALVATORE ship must take the lead under
the most recent ACHE survey conducted portive of the concept and thwarted its the distribution of global BARBERA, DHA, MSM, a different dynamic with
in 2019, “physician-hospital relations” development. During this period, physi- payments for a total hip FACHE physicians as employees. As
dropped to a ranking of “8”. Does this cian relations remained a top priority for replacement? This would an employee they are
drop in ranking result from the changing hospital administrators who engaged in be extremely difficult at accountable to management
environment where today more than the acquisition of physician practices not best and clearly elevate “Physician-hos- and have a boss to answer to.
50% of U.S. physicians are employed or only for the development of integrated pital relations” to a number 1 position of As a member of the Faculty in the FAU
under a contract with a healthcare sys- delivery systems but to align with physi- concern for hospital CEOs. Financially, if College of Business Executive
tem? According to Health Affairs based cians, in particular, primary care. a hospital enjoys a top-market position Management Program, the history of
on a study they conducted, in the two Hospitals needed to ensure admissions and is the industry leader in orthopedics, physician relations from a CEO’s per-
year period of 2016-2018, primary care were maintained and growing and this acquiring an orthopedic group makes spective represents an example of the
physicians affiliated with healthcare sys- depended on the relationships estab- financial and marketing sense. This was subject matter featured and discussed in
tems increased from 38% to 49%. This lished with primary care physicians not an option to consider in the 1990s. the Executive MHA Program. This high-
increase was confirmed by a survey com- responsible for inpatient admissions. Is there a correlation between physi- ly sophisticated topic will not be found
pleted by the AMA that found in 2018, Hospitals continue to rely on physicians cian relations and the degree of physi- in textbooks and can only be explored by
8% of physicians worked directly for a to admit patients, refer to specialists on cian employment? Do relations improve faculty with hands on experience in
hospital and another 27% worked for a the medical staff, and utilize available when physicians are employed? Future these specialized areas of executive man-
hospital-owned practice. These studies diagnostic services. The physician prac- study of this question would be needed agement. Topics such as this lead by
support the growing trend confirming tice acquisition period of time in the to establish any relationship. In the experienced industry experts are part of
the increase in physician employment by early 1990s exclusively involved primary meantime, the dynamic of this organiza- the rich and contemporary curriculum
hospitals over the last 10 years. care. tional structure will continue to be tested found in the FAU Executive MHA
I recall in the early 1990s while serving Today, the industry is experiencing a and draw attention as physician employ- Program.
as a hospital CEO within a large regional feverish pace of physician practice acqui- ment can be a costly financial venture.
non-profit system in Louisville, sitions by hospitals and healthcare sys- Industry experts estimate that the cost of Salvatore Barbera, Faculty, Health
Kentucky, we developed and implement- tems but different from the early 1990s, physician employment could be 10% of a Administration Programs, Management
ed a strategic initiative to acquire physi- today they primarily involve specialists. hospital budget and has become one of Programs Department, College of Business,
cian practices. This initiative was part of As in the 1990s, physician practice the fastest growing expense line items in Florida Atlantic University, can be reached
our overall plan to create an integrated acquisitions were considered in prepara- the budget. The employment of physi- at (561) 297-4444 or sbarber2@fau.edu

K
R
WO
O
NG LP
S
K RE
DI
RA
NS
URA
YO
WA
U
AT TNNW O KII IN PN : ASK A B O U T B O L CK C ED T GR A T NTS TS T O TOW A RDY OUR D N
TT
T

BE C O M ME

C
E
E

E OM

A N U R S E .
U
N N RS .
E
N s
u
e e r
n i
i
o
ss
t a a i e
A
r
A oc te Degr e Nursin g
s
c
i
i
n
n
P actica lN sing
r P P P
r
a
a
a
i
i
ct
r
r
r
s
r
u
u
r
u
s
c
g
n
c
N
alN
a
M e edi c c ica s s i s n i g h h t it
a al Assi ting wi
X
B a asi c c ic -rayy O p p p pe r a o i n n
a
-
e atio
r
r
r
i
V t www f t i s . e u oo lear n r a e n a u r l l a u t r irtua
o . .
o
s
.
s
t
u o b t our vi
si
i
ti . du
i V
t
G IGNIT E Y O U F U T U E l sr o m dhow y o ou can en ll1 0 0 % o n i l n i l ne . .
G IGN
E
E
E
E
I
O
UR
U
T ITE
O
O OUR FUTURE
T
U
UR
I
E YO
U
m and h
o o r
h
h
s
a l cl
a
s
s
l l o r nrol
l1 % nli
a
1
0
0
1
o
A
FORTIS COLLLEGE • CUUTLER BBAY CAMPUUS
R
,
19600 S D B, CUTLER BA Y,
19600 S DDIXIE HWY B CCUTLER BAY FLFL 33157
DIXIE HWY B
,
Y
Y
Y,
,
C
,
F inancial aid available for thoose who qualify C . ar eer placement as sisttance for all gr aduates. F or consumer infformation, visit fortis.edu.
14 November 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News