Specialty health systems are expanding geographically, seeking to extend their brands and referral base while broadening their recruitment reach.
Cancer centers like City of Hope, children’s hospitals such as Phoenix Children’s Hospital and academic medical centers including UVA Health have historically been slower to expand than traditional hospital operators, relying heavily on philanthropy and their brand-recognition. But that dynamic seems to be shifting as specialty systems seek broader statewide or national recognition via acquisitions and partnerships, Modern Healthcare reports.
Health systems that specialize in treating the most complex patients need geographic breadth since they are dealing with a small part of the population, said Joe Lupica, chair of Newpoint Healthcare Advisors, a consultancy. Meanwhile, quaternary, specialty systems need to compete with traditional systems that continue to improve their care quality, he said. Read more.
