Improving the financial performance of IDS-owned physician practices - Integrated Delivery Systems

Healthcare Financial Management, August, 1998 by Marc Benoff, Susan F. Dubow

Third, IDSs should develop an independent physician management organization to manage their physician practices, with a dedicated infrastructure that is economically justifiable and sustainable, and a staff that is proficient in physician practice management. In addition, the number of staff dedicated to central management functions should be limited.

Finally, IDSs should implement a plan to consolidate practices and staff to form an integrated group practice.

a. Hudson, Terese, "Necessary Losses?" Hospitals and Health Networks, December 20, 1997, pp. 26-27.

Marc Benoff, MBA, is a director, Dan Grauman Associates, Inc., Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and a member of HFMA's Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter.

Susan F. Dubow, JD, is a shareholder, Kalogredis, Tsoules and Sweeny, Ltd., Wayne, Pennsylvania.