VA health system allays reorg fears

After months of angry debate and threats of legal action, Roanoke, VA-based Carilion Health System seems to have finally gained support from its physicians for its planned $100 million restructuring. Carilion doctors had mounted a campaign to oppose the reorganization, including a petition drive and website spelling out their concerns. The opposition leaders, who had planned to spend upwards of $100,000 to fight the reorg, were upset by the health system's plan to convert itself into a multispecialty practice called Carilion Clinic, modeled along the lines of doctor-driven systems like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. However, opponents agreed to halt their efforts after administrators assured them that all doctors, including those who stay independent, can be involved in the new initiative. Carilion predicts that it will need to hire 140 new doctors as its reorganization moves forward, but execs stressed that independent doctors would not be pressured to become employees.

For more about the agreement:
- read this piece in The Roanoke Times

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