Hospital and Physician Integration

To thrive in the years ahead, hospitals, health systems and physicians must be able to forge strong relationships. The key is creating mechanisms for alignment of incentives.  Organizations that are responsive to physician needs and creative in solving shared problems will succeed in building a stronger strategic position.  Health Directions helps hospitals and health systems strengthen physician relationships through the following high-impact services:

• Physician workforce planning — Health Directions has a proven track record of helping healthcare organizations create sustainable competitive strategies for recruiting and retaining physicians. We analyze your medical staff to understand its needs and priorities, and we evaluate the competitive landscape to identify opportunities for growing market share. We facilitate a collaborative decision-making process to clarify tactical goals and create far-reaching plans that support a comprehensive market strategy.
• Physician compensation planning — As physician employment continues to grow in popularity, compensation models have become a key lever for maintaining physician satisfaction.  Health Directions has helped organizations across the country design innovative compensation plans that reward high performance and align physician activity with organizational goals.  We are skilled at involving physicians in plan development and creating objective compensation models that dovetail with organizational culture and mission. 
• Strategic business planning — Due to declining reimbursement and increased overhead, healthcare providers are seeking alternative sources of revenue.  Significant opportunity exists for collaborative efforts to assist both hospitals and physicians reach desired financial, operational and market goals.  Health Directions has years of experience in development of business plans for creation of joint ventures and/or stand-alone practice and service expansion options that mutually benefit hospitals and physicians. 
• MSO development and management — A Management Services Organization can be an effective vehicle for building strong hospital/physician relationships. Health Directions knows the value of the MSO solution. In fact, our firm was founded in 1985 as an MSO. We understand the operational, technological, administrative and marketing requirements of a successful MSO venture. We can help hospitals and health systems develop a wide range of MSO services to provide effective management support to both employed and non-employed physicians.
• ACO Development and Management — Physician and hospital integration is one critical component necessary for forming a successful Accountable Care Organization (ACO).  Drawing on the wide range of in house expertise, Health Directions helps both hospitals and physicians develop and implement ACOs, including the design of governance structures, clinical delivery systems, meaningful measures, and "best practice" processes. 
• PCMH Development and Management — In the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, care is coordinated across the entire continuum of to improve patient outcomes.  For this model to work out, it is important that incentives are aligned and that all members are working together in the best interest of the patient.  Health Directions draws on its breadth of knowledge and experience with primary care physician practices and health systems to guide all parties through development of a successful PCMH.  In many cases, the PCMH(s) may serve as the foundation for creation of an ACO.
• Ambulatory Service Planning —  Hospitals and physicians often find themselves competing in the same markets for the same set of services; services include ambulatory surgery, imaging and other ancillaries.  Through an interactive process Health Directions works with hospitals and physicians to accurately identify market competitors, forecast ambulatory needs and integrate development of primary and specialty care networks in support of mutual goals and objectives.  Resultant plans serve to expand ambulatory market share and corresponding revenue growth.