Creating Value in Organization Structure - The Service Line Approach - Part 5: The Future of Integration

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 | MedAxiom

Re-Emergence of the Service Line

It is clear that healthcare reform favors the consolidation of the healthcare industry. In nearly every faction of the industry consolidating efforts are observed – hospitals purchasing hospitals, physician organizations being purchased by both hospitals and insurance plans and industry device and pharmaceutical providers consolidating operations and sales forces to better align with the new healthcare order. However, consolidation without a strategy to leverage the joined entities operationally, financially and strategically will be only one thing – expensive. The re-emergence of the service line, with an incumbent mandate to drive care coordination and value to patients, is a model that has early promise to facilitate effective healthcare transformation.