Survey confirms health systems' losses on MD practices

Hospital-based organizations continue to face financial problems arising from their outright purchases of physician practices over the past several years, a recent nationwide survey confirms. The survey of 322 acute-care hospitals and systems by the consulting and research firm Longshore + Simmons, Conshohocken, PA, reinforces the theme of other recent data coming out of provider organizations: Hospital-based organizations are losing lots of money on their acquired physician practices. And while many industry experts see a trend toward realignment of incentives, current prospects are not very good.