A focus on common needs. CHA's physician-facility project looks at future directions in healthcare

Physicians and administrators of healthcare facilities lack integrated planning and decision-making processes, trust and confidence in each other, and a professional sense of satisfaction. A focus on common needs and interests is necessary to get the relationship on the desired track in the future. In 1989 the board of directors of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) created a special study group to review and develop recommendations on the relationships between physicians and healthcare organizations. The study group has addressed issues causing stress in these relationships, future changes in healthcare delivery that could affect these relationships, support CHA might provide, and ways to promote emphasis of these relationships and related issues among CHA members. The study group decided that collaborative planning and decision making will be the keys to getting to the desired future. This integration must go beyond shared planning activities and involve some degree of shared economic risk. The study group's final report, to be disseminated in spring of 1992, will identify key issues that significantly affect the physician-facility relationship, include resource materials to assist local organizations in assessing that relationship, and recommend ways to change the relationship through education.