Hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, are expanding in an attempt to maintain market share in a competitive environment, according to a recent study.
The San Antonio Market Overview, by Nashville-based managed care research provider HealthLeaders-InterStudy, reveals that San Antonio’s top two health systems, Methodist Healthcare and Baptist Health, are expanding through acquisitions and construction of new facilities.
“The San Antonio market will see continued hospital consolidation as small hospitals look for partners and as large systems aim to defend market share and improve their negotiations with insurers,” said HealthLeaders-InterStudy market analyst Deborah White.
White said Methodist Healthcare recently acquired Texsan Heart Hospital, while Baptist Health is opening a new hospital in New Braunfels, Texas, and building a new hospital in San Antonio to replace an older facility. These health systems are implementing strategies to increase integration and coordination of care, thereby creating close alignment with physicians, the report notes.
The study also reveals that an increasing number of physicians are opting for employment with health systems, as they face challenges such as electronic medical record costs and declining government reimbursements.
“Health systems are accelerating the use of non-profit organizations to employ physicians as part of their physician alignment strategy,” White said.