Evaluating the potential merger of two internal medicine residency programs: process and recommendations

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Administration
• Medical Education
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• Healthcare sector consolidation due to economic forces is significant.
• Impacts of hospital mergers on graduate medical education (GME) programs remain understudied.
• Academic leaders face challenges in consolidating GME programs during institutional mergers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a model for assessing the feasibility of GME program consolidation.
• To share lessons learned from a potential GME program consolidation case study.
• To evaluate four levels of integration for two internal medicine programs within a merged health system.

Main Methods:

• A novel exploratory process was employed.
• Methods included focused interviews, literature review, SWOT analysis, and a semi-quantitative scoring system.
• The assessment focused on two internal medicine programs within a merged health system.

Main Results:

• The two internal medicine programs will not merge.
• Educational and administrative synergies will be pursued between the programs.
• The study provides a recommendation to health system administration.

Conclusions:

• Common challenges in GME merger assessments include cultural differences, mistrust, lack of shared vision, communication issues, and managing change.
• Establishing shared values, recognizing synergies, and assessing organizational compatibility are key to overcoming challenges.
• Maximizing faculty-resident interaction and ensuring equitable salaries/benefits can foster trust and a positive learning environment, even without a full merger.