Taking on hospital-owned practices
These days, hospitals are buying medical practices again. There was certainly a quiet period in hospital and health system mergers during 2008, but the more recent trend suggests a big turnover. If we go by American Medical News, a growing number of physicians are keen on selling their practices to hospitals.
According to an AHA survey released on April 27 last year, it was found that hospitals are seeing an increase in the number of physicians on the look out to sell their practices. In November 2008, 31 percent of doctors were looking to sell their practices. That number increased to 37 percent by March last year. According to the AHA survey, 9 percent of hospitals were contemplating mergers in response to poor economic conditions. The now receding recession and the impending health reform means hospitals want to safeguard themselves in uncertain times. Since the credit market is heading for the better, it’s making such deals possible.
Challenges in implementing a hospital Information system
Pre-implementation assessment
A hospital administrator who is planning to implement a HIS software in his hospital may thus be apprehensive that the implementation may end in a complete or part ial failure. Prevention of this eventuality starts even prior to purchase of the software. The software the vendor as well as the hospital need to be well assessed.
Software assessment