Provider services and solutions

Personalized Medicine: Academic Medical Centers

The challenge

Academic Medical Centers (AMCs), nearly 400 in number, comprise only six percent of all hospitals nationwide. Yet they provide nearly half of all clinical care for underinsured and indigent patients. Operate 47 percent of organ transplant centers. Run 60 percent of level one trauma centers. Provide 67 percent of burn beds. Train more than 100,000 new physicians and health professionals each year.

Complex organizations, AMCs serve multiple, vital roles in US healthcare delivery. They deliver advanced clinical care. Educate our future physicians. Conduct crucial medical research. The future of our entire healthcare system depends on keeping AMCs financially viable. Although AMCs provide a disproportionate share of the nation’s healthcare services, they are experiencing the same dwindling reimbursements that plague other providers. Soaring costs of patient care, medical education, and research and development are causing AMCs to re-evaluate their strategic planning and growth campaigns.

AMCs have a special need to manage change. In addition to changes in care delivery necessitated by market trends, regulations, and reforms, AMCs must constantly adjust their education and research priorities. Currently, AMCs are working to correct imbalances of physicians, encouraging them to choose primary care and to practice in underserved communities. Research organizations are adapting to promising new discoveries and clinical practices.

How we can help you

An AMC’s multiple missions can be both prideful and problematic. You need to develop more synergies among care delivery, education, and research. You need to increase your available resources and use them productively.

  • We can help you accelerate cash flow and find ways to cross-subsidize functions. We can develop realistic compensation plans for faculty and staff that incorporate productivity measures. We can help you plan for the growth of your research enterprise. We can assist with faculty recruiting and enterprise-wide fundraising.
AMCs must manage change adroitly.

  • We can evaluate the effects of clinical change on education and research. We can collaborate with faculty and medical school leadership to manage change and develop strategic plans.

Common services include

  • Enhancing cash flow and cross-subsidization
  • Developing realistic faculty compensation plans incorporating productivity measures
  • Planning research enterprise growth
  • Strategic planning and change management
  • Evaluating the effect of clinical changes on education and research
  • Assisting with faculty recruiting and enterprise-wide fundraising

Subject matter specialists

Alicia Harkness

US Healthcare Provider Practice

Show details Alicia Harkness

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