title: The Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center firm system.
abstract: Hospital-based "firms" provide a means for combatting the fragmentation experienced by both patients and caregivers in the modern teaching hospital environment. A "firm" is an academic group practice that includes attending physicians, physician trainees, nurses, other staff, and patients. Each person's relationship with a firm lasts throughout his or her association with a particular institution. This article describes the firm system that was recently implemented on the Medical Service of the Cleveland VAMC. This system incorporates both inpatient and outpatient general medical services and provides for unbiased assignment of patients, physicians, and nurses.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Landefeld
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aucott
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hout
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Midgette
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ravdin
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Aron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care