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 We are pausing publication of The Daily Briefing out of respect for the tragic passing of Brian Thompson. We will resume publication of this daily newsletter in the coming days.

Case Study

How Ballad Health developed a physician governance model to support integration

Ballad Health, formed by the merger of two competing health systems, developed a physician governance model to tackle the challenges of integration. Learn how this model increased transparency, improved physician well-being, and helped the organization overcome cultural integration barriers.
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Overview

The challenge

Once the hard work of finalizing a merger is complete, the even harder work of integration begins. During integration, it’s not uncommon for an “us vs. them" mentality to emerge between members of the previously separate organizations. Tensions may even be exacerbated if these organizations were previously competitors. This poses challenges for cultural integration and often results in silos that impede integration progress altogether.

The organization

Ballad Health was formed by the merger of two competing regional health systems. It has 21 hospitals, a large multispecialty physician practice network, behavioral health services, and post-acute care offerings. The organization serves communities across the Appalachian Highlands and has locations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.  

The approach

Early in the merger, Ballad Health’s leaders recognized that the administrative leadership council alone could not effectively roll out an integration plan and address physician concerns at the same time. A year and a half after the merger closed, Ballad created a new physician governance model with 1) a physician board, and 2) service line councils. The goal of this model was to increase transparency with physicians around decision-making and improve physician wellbeing.

The result

This dual governance model amplified physicians’ voices in the integration process by providing them with a dedicated outlet to raise issues or concerns, while also providing more transparency into how decisions are made. Leaders measured the success of the governance model via physician surveys and realized noticeable cultural benefits.


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INTENDED AUDIENCE
  • Hospitals and health systems
  • Physicians and medical groups

AFTER YOU READ THIS
  • You'll learn how Ballad Health created a new physician governance model.

  • You’ll understand how the new physician governance model increased transparency into decision-making and improved physician well-being.

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