ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTERS AND HMOS - A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON COLLABORATION IN-TRAINING GENERALISTS PHYSICIANS AND ADVANCING MUTUAL INTERESTS

Academic health centers (AHCs) and health maintenance organizations (H MOs) often hold each other at arm's length because of fundamental orga nizational differences. AHCs view HMOs as too intrusive in the clinica l management of patients and too concerned with the financial bottom l ine. HMOs view AHCs as organizationally fragmented and expensive in pr oviding health care services. AHCs must expand their primary care netw orks and reassess their mission and public accountability in training a more balanced physician workforce. HMOs are growing rapidly and need well-trained generalist physicians to support that growth. This paper uses an organizational systems model in examining AHCs and HMOs to id entify common needs, mutual interests, areas for potential collaborati on, and bridging strategies. These include health care systems develop ment, professional education, information management systems, and heal th services research. As the financing and delivery of health care con tinue to change and to become more integrated, both organizations have much to gain from collaboration.