Integrating physicians with a hospital is becoming increasingly important as healthcare delivery shifts away from fee-for-service to those rewarding more coordinated care. One way to integrate physicians is to focus on a particular service line, such as cardiovascular services. By starting with one department, hospital and physician leaders can more easily consider the processes specific to a certain area of care. Successful alignment, however, requires careful planning, communication and cooperation. William M. Cherry, MHA, CHE, vice president of Paragon Health, a cardiovascular management and consulting company, shares six strategies for integration in the cardiovascular service line.
