Merging hospitals and physician support

This study gives empirical documentation of physician support for a recent hospital merger. Results indicated that physicians from private practice, from the medical specialty of anesthesiology, and those least satisfied with hospital administration were also the least supportive of the merger. Formal involvement in the merger process, via task force membership, did relatively little to increase physician support for the merger. However, a significant correlation between perceived input into the merger process and support for the merger indicates positive aspects of involvement, even though this may not have occurred through the formal structure of task forces. Implications for managing physicians and hospital mergers is discussed.