Consolidation of community hospitals.

The largest component of U.S. health care expenditures is the cost of hospital care. Evidence seems to indicate that community hospital costs can be reduced through the consolidation of some, or even all, hospital services. Although no discernible set of relevant minimal costs for the hospital industry has been established as yet, significant economies of scale can be attributed to the consolidation process. In addition to potential economic benefits, medical benefits can also accure to the community as well when inefficient, low-volume services are combined to provide more attractive resources to highly qualified specialists. Many independent community hospitals operate autonomously, often to the detriment of community health needs and economy. Those hospitals that fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by consolidation may not be keeping faith with the population they claim to serve.