Health system mergers and acquisitions indicate a shift toward retail clinics, physician practices and digital resources, according to an article on the Health Facility Management website.
"The shift in hospitals toward vertical integration is a response to the need to form new delivery system models that allow for greater coordination of care," said a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association.
For instance, Providence Health & Services and Walgreens in Portland and Seattle are partnering to integrate 25 store-based clinics into the system's primary care model.
This shift can lower risk, improve cost structures and capture more of the payer dollars, as well as serve customers better, the article said.
The Impact of Acoustics on Patient Privacy
Texas Behavioral Health Center in Dallas Opens with Ribon-Cutting Ceremony
Banner Health to Sell Banner Lassen Medical Center to Quorum Health
What Accessibility in Senior Care Facilities Should Look Like
Why Identity Governance Is Becoming a Facilities Management Issue