Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:Introduction to Health Care and Public Health in the U.S.
Unit:Delivering Health Care - Part 1
Lecture:Structure and Function of Health Care Facilities and Hospital Units
Slide content:Group Practice Clinic Partnership includes 2 or more physicians Corporate group practice: Corporation owns the practice Physicians are employees Independent Practice Association (IPA) Practice is a legal entity (e.g., corporation) Each physician has a separate office Physicians own the practice May contract with HMOs to provide health care 5
Slide notes:Two or more physicians may practice medicine together in what is called a partnership. One or both of the partners can actually be a corporation, rather than a person. In a corporate group practice, a hospital or corporation owns the practice and the physicians are employees, each earning a salary. An Independent Practice Association, or IPA, is another type of group practice where physicians work together to provide services while sharing economic risk. The IPA is a registered legal entity such as a corporation, a partnership, or a foundation. Each physician runs his or her own office, maintaining separate medical records, support staff, and professional identities. The physicians themselves own the IPA. Although distinct from HMOs, IPAs may contract with HMOs to provide services to HMO patients. 5