Linking Primary Care Centers and Hospitals

Abstract

Primary care centers (PCCs) are increasingly entering into linkages with hospitals that go far beyond the traditional arrangements in which the hospitals serve as backups to the PCCs. The linkages can be for managed care purposes, for training of health professionals in primary care settings, or for other reasons. This article explores the advantages of such arrangements, the organizational forms that the linkages can take, the legal issues, and negotiating the deal.