Cardiovascular Joint Ventures: How Physician-Hospital Economic Partnerships Can Improve Quality, Control Costs & Increase Profitability-- New study released by HealthGroup West, LLC

In response to the need for sound advice and analysis on the issue of how hospitals and physicians can form ventures to improve the quality and profitability of cardiovascular care while simultaneously controlling costs and reducing waste, HealthGroup West has published a new white paper.

Recent national headlines indicate that Americans are spending more than ever for healthcare, and cardiovascular care is one of the biggest ticket items. As a result, despite tremendous provider-driven advances in recent years in terms of saving lives and lowering cardiovascular death rates, government agencies and major payors are focusing a spotlight on provider utilization patterns and financial practices. In addition, an increasing number of academic studies are questioning whether the current level of spending represents a sound investment. It has been convincingly demonstrated that per capita spending on cardiovascular care varies dramatically around the country without any apparent logic-or more importantly-without any discernable correlation with improved health.

But many hospitals and cardiovascular physician practices around the country are combining forces to address these issues. And a key weapon in their arsenal is a standard business tool with useful applications in almost all industries-the joint venture. In response to the need for sound advice and analysis on the issue of how hospitals and physicians can form ventures to improve the quality and profitability of cardiovascular care while simultaneously controlling costs and reducing waste, HealthGroup West has published a new white paper. Free copies of Cardiovascular Joint Ventures: How Physician-Hospital Partnerships Can Improve Quality, Control Costs & Increase Profitability" are available upon request from HealthGroup West. The study provides cardiovascular leaders with a framework to evaluate the appropriateness of pursuing a variety of different joint ventures in their own cardiovascular programs.

According to Kevin Curtis, a principal at HealthGroup West, Cardiovascular care is a natural target for developing joint ventures because, unlike some other medical specialties, hospitals and cardiologists absolutely need each other to do their work." Despite the increasing shift to outpatient care seen nationally, much of cardiology remains inpatient in nature. The problem is that the various interests of hospitals and cardiovascular physicians are rarely aligned, producing the random patterns in utilization and outcomes that researchers have documented-but this can be overcome through the structuring of formal business and clinical partnerships, " added Curtis.

Pure demographics and technological advances dictate that there will be tremendous future growth in cardiovascular care," said Jeffrey Frazier, also a principal at HealthGroup West, LLC. But now more than ever providers of cardiovascular care need to be able to demonstrate that their actions dramatically improve the health of their patients and actually save the country money in terms of increased worker productivity and quality of life. There are many opportunities for hospitals and physicians to use joint ventures to make this happen," added Frazier.

HealthGroup West is expert in the growth and development of cardiology, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology, and vascular medicine services. With clients ranging from physician practices and community hospitals to major industry players, HealthGroup West is one of the most knowledgeable groups of experts in the country on the development of all types of specialized cardiovascular services. The cardiovascular specialists of HealthGroup West hold advanced degrees in Business Administration; Economics and Finance; Health Policy and Evaluative Clinical Sciences; Information Science, Law, and others.