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Virtual partnerships: aligning hospital and surgeon incentives.
Am J Surg. 2010 Jul;200(1):105-110
Authors: Fry DE, Pine M, Pine G
BACKGROUND: Payment schemes exist for health care in the United States that are perverse and, in many cases, antithetical to the goals of all concerned. A fundamental reorganization will be required if care is to be broadened and sensible economies achieved. METHODS: For some time, we have experimented intellectually with reorganization of the specialist/hospital axis in contemporary medical care, seeking a more functional relationship among the parties (ie, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and their patients). RESULTS: A virtual partnership between surgical specialists and the hospital provides many of the favored factors for productive and mutually respected care for patients with a feasible method for limiting costs. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual partnership, as exemplified for 3 major surgeries, could create a relationship that benefits the patient, the surgical specialist, the hospital, and the ethical payer.
PMID: 20637343 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]