American Surgical Hospital Association Changes Name to Physician Hospitals of America

The American Surgical Hospital Association (ASHA) announced at its annual meeting held in New port Beach, Calif. Nov. 2-4, 2006, that it is changing its name to Physician Hospitals of America (PHA). The new name reflects the association’s focus to promote the advancement of hospitals that include physicians as owners, according to executive director Molly Gutierrez.

Physician Hospitals of America was founded in 2001 and has nearly 100 members. PHA offers support, advocacy and educational services to the physician-owned hospital industry, reflecting at all times the best interests of the patients, physicians, and other specialty providers who play an inextricable and essential role in the provision of healthcare services. 

“With the end of the federal government’s moratorium on physician ownership in hospitals, the physician-owned hospital industry is growing again,” says Jim Grant, outgoing president of the board of PHA. “Physician-owned hospitals are good for patients, for physicians, for communities and for the healthcare industry.”

Currently, there are approximately 125 hospitals across the U.S. with at least partial ownership by physicians. Additional development is expected across the United States.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), specialty hospitals "offer improved, cost-effective care." They "encourage competition between and among health facilities, which has led to the delivery of higher quality, more efficient and innovative health care in the communities in which they are located."

“The future of physician-owned hospitals is exciting,” says Gutierrez. "It is our belief that the physician-owned hospital industry is poised for great success. The realization of such success will certainly benefit the quality of care, efficiency of treatment and choice of service currently available to patients."  

PHA represents physician-owned hospitals through education and advocacy. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, PHA works with hospitals, state associations and corporations on a national level to promote physician-owned hospitals in the United States. Physician-owned hospitals provide superior patient care, give physicians and patients more control and provide competition that leads to more efficient delivery of healthcare.

Source: PHA