Group/hospital affiliation: possible barriers to medical staff integration

Group practice administrators are understandably concerned about the drawbacks and the benefits of formal affiliation of their groups with hospitals or other healthcare institutions. An administrator may wonder: "Should we align ourselves with this particular institution at this time?" or "What kinds of formal arrangements should we enter into?" A good administrator is also a good negotiator, and as such, will try to consider and include the opinions of the other participants in actions involving his group. When considering affiliation with an organization, the administrator will try to understand the drawbacks and the benefits as seen from the other side of the fence.