title: Virtual partnerships: aligning hospital and surgeon incentives.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Michael Pine and Associates, 5020 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. dfry@mpine-inc.com
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pine
mesh_terms: 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