Virtual partnerships: aligning hospital and surgeon incentives.
BACKGROUND
Payment schemes exist for health care in the United States that are perverse and, in many cases, antithetical to the goals of all concerned. A fundamental reorganization will be required if care is to be broadened and sensible economies achieved.


METHODS
For some time, we have experimented intellectually with reorganization of the specialist/hospital axis in contemporary medical care, seeking a more functional relationship among the parties (ie, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and their patients).


RESULTS
A virtual partnership between surgical specialists and the hospital provides many of the favored factors for productive and mutually respected care for patients with a feasible method for limiting costs.


CONCLUSIONS
A virtual partnership, as exemplified for 3 major surgeries, could create a relationship that benefits the patient, the surgical specialist, the hospital, and the ethical payer.
Fry
Donald E
DE
Michael Pine and Associates, 5020 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. dfry@mpine-inc.com
Pine
Michael
M
Pine
Gregory
G
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006759:Hospital-Physician Joint Ventures / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018578:Hospital-Physician Relations; D006801:Humans; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D014481:United States