Many health care leaders believe that physician-hospital alignment is one of the greatest challenges facing the U.S. health care system. Hospitals and physicians are faced with finding innovative ways to collaborate while taking advantage of their joint economic interests. Accountable care organizations (ACO), medical foundations, hospital-owned group practices, and joint venture initiatives can be potential solutions. Refer to Chapter 9, Accountable Care Organizations and Physician Alignment, listed in your reading link.

Part 1

Instructions

Define the concept of an integrated physician model.

Part 2

Instructions

Explain the importance of clinical integration in the strategic planning process. Once explained, demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics and controversies surrounding accountable care organizations and alternative approaches to the current health system.

Part 3

Instructions

Choose one of the models for hospital-physician integration and discuss the advantages and disadvantages for hospitals and physicians under this model (medical foundations, hospital-owned group practices, hospitalists, joint venture initiatives, equity-based joint ventures, etc.).

Part 4

Instructions

Summarize your final recommendation for a change management model to be used for this clinical integration. Support your recommendation with academic resources.

Please complete the assignment in a Microsoft Word document.

The body of your document should be at least 1,000 words in length.

Quoting should be less than 10% of the entire paper. Paraphrasing is necessary.

Students must cite and reference at least four credible sources.

Review the writing resources for APA formatting and citation found in Academic Tools. Additional writing resources can be found within the Academic Success Center.