Health Networks

Thomas P. Weil believes that the formation of health networks, or integrated delivery systems, represents a more sophisticated attempt to restructure America's health system than those previously undertaken. He argues that this is so because integrated delivery systems require the application of established business principles and well-researched clinical acumen to the delivery of medical care services. This book evaluates whether recently formed health networks can generate enough fiscal savings to provide greater access to and quality of health care despite the current trend of cutbacks in reimbursement from Medicare and managed care plans.

Unfortunately, most hospitals that have formed alliances with a previous competitor or nearby teaching facility have found that they are not yet achieving the savings originally forecast. Weil finds that these shortcomings often have been caused by the difficulties in achieving a strategic fit between two partners, in finding a middle ground when differences in culture and values surface, and in implementing operational efficiencies. The book concludes with a discussion of a number of ways in which networks might cut costs in the future.

Health Networks will be of interest to medical practitioners and administrators, as well as to students in health services management programs.

Thomas P. Weil is President, Bedford Health Associates, Inc., management consultants for health and hospital services.

Praise / Awards

• "Weil provides shrewd insight to the current status and future of health networks. He conceptualizes and articulates the web of forces impinging on those who manage, regulate, reimburse, study, and govern health networks—a must have resource for all."
  —John T. Ashley, Mission St . Joseph's Health System, Asheville, North Carolina
  
• "Dr. T. P. Weil, respected educator, researcher, and consultant, provides shrewd insight to the past, present, and future of health networks in the U.S. Weil's ability to conceptualize and thoroughly articulate the web of forces impinging on those who manage, regulate, reimburse, study, and govern health networks makes his treatise a key resource for the coming decade."
  —John T. Ashley, Mission St Joseph's Health System, Asheville, North Carolina
  
• "An important, timely, and lucid dissection of the effectiveness of health networks in America and their impact on access, quality, cost reduction, and national health policy. This is a book that I would strongly recommend to leaders of networks and hospitals as well as strategic decision makers in health care. Weil makes a powerful case for his conclusions and does not pull any punches."
  —Samuel Levey, School of Public Health, University of Iowa
  
• "This book contains a wealth of knowledge and great insight into the past, present, and future of our health care delivery system. . . . The book has much to offer. I enjoyed the historical context set by the author, as well as his knowledge of the various ways the economy, coupled with cultural norms, is likely to enhance or impede the development of health policy."
  —John T. Shea, Bon Secours Health System, Marriotsville MD, Health Progress, September-October 2002
  
• "This book is certainly a keeper, one to be quoted for a decade. . . . It is stronger on telling us what usually doesn't work (regulation, price controls, command and control, mergers, vertical integration, hub-and-spokes design, managed care—and health networks) than on telling us what will work, but surely that much is a lesson worth learning."
  —George Ross Fisher, M.D., Philadelphia, JAMA, Volume 287, No. 14 (April 10, 2002)