Service Line Assessment at a Midwestern Health System

An integrated health care delivery system formed in the 1990s through the partnership of two Catholic hospitals in a Midwestern city, this client network includes the two hospitals and more than 50 other locations, including fitness, rehabilitation, occupational health, and outpatient service centers.  

The Challenge:

As part of its clinical service line/centers of excellence strategy, the system engaged The Bard Group to assess options for developing a spine center. We helped the system evaluate the possibility of financial collaboration with community orthopedists in building the center and develop models for potential business relationships. Our assessment included articulating the parties’ interests and objectives, identifying structural options for partnering, and defining the business models available within legal and regulatory constraints. 

The Solution:

Because the engagement involved determining the feasibility of the spine center, we proposed a plan of action with two explicit “decision gate” points built in, allowing the client to assess the findings to that point without a commitment to go forward. The first “gate” followed the initial assessment of goals and development of a high-level scope and vision; the second came after the identification and development of business and operating models for the identified programs of care.

The Impact:

The information and guidance in decision-making that we provided helped the client to decide against pursuing this particular service line at the time. We were able to assist them in allocating their energies and resources toward projects with a better chance of success.