When the former Heart Center Medical Group joined the newly formed Lutheran Medical Group this month, its physicians got something a growing number of area doctors have obtained – ownership stake in hospitals.
Today, three of Fort Wayne’s five general hospitals are partly owned by doctors. Physicians also have a minority stake in a rehabilitation hospital and two local orthopedic hospitals in the Summit City. And doctors own less than 1 percent of Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw.
In all, seven area hospitals are partly doctor-owned, compared with none in 2000.
Local doctors and hospital officials say joint ownership improves collaboration, patient care and customer service. In addition, they say doctors might be more cost-conscious when they have an ownership stake.
