Choosing the right physician practices.

A process for evaluating physician practices by their strategic alignment with a health system's mission separates the practices into four categories: "Must-have"--Strategically and financially beneficial. "Cash is king"--Financially beneficial but not a strategic priority. "Dream big"--strategically important but currently not financially beneficial. "Avoid acquiring"--neither strategically nor financially beneficial.

From acquisition to integration: transforming a hospital into an ACO.

Five steps are essential to the process of hospitals acquiring physician groups to develop truly integrated delivery systems: Securing internal and external approvals. Integrating physicians into leadership and governance. Developing physician employment terms and compensation. Exploiting reimbursement improvement opportunities. Streamlining operations