Plan Overview
Many hospitals already
have a Physician Liaison program. Typically it is part of the marketing function, medical staff
office, or a stand-alone program reporting to senior management.
Liaison responsibilities include promoting hospital services, being a
“good listener” for unhappy physicians, a resource for information, and a
visible representative of the institution.
Few programs have specific and measurable goals and objectives.
While all attempt to make members of the medical staff feel ‘special”
this is no longer enough.
The Need
 The private practice of medicine is more challenging than ever.
Physicians need, but can seldom afford, high-level business advice, the
latest technology, assistance in meeting ever-increasing regulatory
requirements, and support in recruiting new associates in a market of scarcity.
The Liaison needs to understand the challenges that physicians face, have the
ability to bring solutions to the table, and have the standing to recommend
changes to hospital operations. The
Physician Liaison is potentially the most valuable resource on the management
team.
The Company
The
Horizon Group consists of experienced health care professionals who have all
worked in physician practices. Our
consultants have served as office managers, administrators, billers, coders,
billing office managers, liaisons, and more.
As a result, we are able to provide a hospital with a comprehensive
physician relations/ liaison program that is customized to meet their unique
needs and goals.
The Program
 Each of our Physician Relationship projects begins with a comprehensive
analysis of the hospital’s service area, and of the current medical staff.
Using national and regional demographic information, we will develop a
specialty-specific needs assessment and compare that to the current medical
staff. We will then develop an
action plan for resolving any over- or under-supply of physicians.
After
assessing the situation, The Horizon Group will place a qualified Physician
Liaison in the hospital’s market. This
individual will be employed by The Horizon Group, but will act on behalf of the
hospital, and regularly report to the senior management of the hospital.
Together with other Horizon staff, this liaison will foster improved
relationships between the hospital and its medical staff through regular
interaction with physicians and their practice staff.
Rather
than simply making social visits to physicians, our liaisons work under a
strategic outline, and with the assistance of other Horizon Group professionals,
they are able to deliver valuable services to physicians on behalf of the
hospital. Partnering with The
Horizon Group also allows hospitals to offer administrative services such as
coding education, billing, management consulting, and group purchasing, without
the capital investment typically required. In today’s difficult healthcare environment, access to many
of these services can be the difference between a thriving practice, and one
that is forced to close.
Our Six Step
Approach
Whether
you have an established program that could benefit from restructure or
refocus, or you need to build one from scratch, our six-step program can be
applied you your situation. Briefly,
these steps include:
Liaison
Selection
Using
a personality profiling system that is based on the DISC research of William
Marston we will assist in identifying candidates that will posses the traits
most likely to be needed in developing effective relationships.
Training
Our
team of experienced Liaison professionals provides all the support your
staff will need.
Situational Analysis
We’ll
help profile the medical staff and identify “Loyalists”, “Splitters”
and “Phantoms”. The
approach to each must be different.
Data
Monthly
and quarterly reports contain critical information on activities, goals, and
strategic issues.
Activity Supervision
We
continue to monitor program performance so you can focus on other issues.
Continuing Professional Development
Monthly
and annually we keep Liaison abreast of critical issues facing physicians.
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