In today's competitive care environment, an important key to success is partnering between the hospital and medical staff. More than ever, the growth of managed care demands that hospitals and medical staff develop and foster a symbiotic relationship.
The medical staff is the engine of every hospital. It is the medical staff that determines case mix, admits patients, controls the use of resources, assures quality of care, creates the documentation that forms the basis for billing, and helps to assure that regulatory standards are met. The full participation and support of the medical staff is critical to the attainment of all quality and revenue goals. All too often, hospitals and their medical staff find themselves on what appears to be opposite sides of the issue. Unfortunately, in some instances, this "matter of perspective"has become part of the institutional culture. Health Systems Management Network has found that this need not be the case. Partnering with the medical staff is a key to the success of all management strategies. Health Systems Management Network has a demonstrated ability to build a bridge between the revenue goals of the medical staff and the requirements of the institution through the realization of common interests. Once convergence has been identified and a culture of sharing has been achieved, strategies can be developed that benefit both the hospital and medical staff. Early success in areas of clear consensus will then facilitate work on more challenging issues.
