title: Strategies for small community hospitals operating in the shadow of a medical center.
abstract: Small community hospitals compete with medical centers. This article presents select descriptive information and strategy considerations that are based on experiences within an 82-hospital system.
authors.affiliation: HealthTrust, Inc., Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vraciu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harkey
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011641:Public Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States