North Texas Medical Center decided to switch the contracted physician group that staffed its emergency department in 2015, seeking better service and quality.

The rural hospital had long been outsourcing its ED operations primarily because it has struggled to recruit and retain doctors. It is one of an estimated 4,000 U.S. hospitals that outsource their EDs, many of which routinely shop around for better options

“It’s hard to recruit folks to rural areas. Having a provider group with a large panel gives us peace of mind that we will always have a provider available,” said Tom Sledge, CEO of North Texas Medical Center, adding that the Gainesville hospital’s volumes and finances have rebounded over the past couple of years.

Read the full article in Modern Healthcare, March 28, 2020.