Notice the similarities in these two lists; some incentives are already aligned.

Hospitals are looking to:

• Neutralize competition and thus protect against declining volume/revenues
• Gain ancillary revenue
• Strengthen contracting leverage
• Ensure call coverage
• Respond to anticipated changes in reimbursement, especially bundled payments
• Combat the scarcity of physicians
• Increase participation in quality/efficiency/cost management initiatives
  

Physicians are looking to:

• Respond to anticipated changes in reimbursement, especially bundled payments
• Strengthen contracting leverage
• Get help with malpractice insurance
• Capitalize on organizational infrastructure, including EMRs and other IT
• Reduce their risk
• Protect against declining income
• Find a balance between work and other ingredients in the good life

Publication Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009