A student health HMO as a partnership model within an academic medical center

Abstract

The Department of Family Practice, College of Medicine, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago, was responsible for the reorganization of the Student Health Service into a health maintenance organization (HMO), Campus Care. Historically, the two campuses of the University of Illinois at Chicago operated student health as an infirmary model. Reorganization of student health into the Campus Care HMO provided expanded health care services to students, preserved more health care dollars in the university system, and provided a nonincremental increase in the size and responsibility of the Department of Family Practice. One year's experience showed that while the capitation was low compared with standard HMOs, the variable and less frequent use of services by the student population resulted in a fiscally viable operation. Numerous transition difficulties were encountered, including the need for rapid systems conversion within a complex university system, reeducation of students as well as traditional university-based practitioners for operation in a managed care system, and the rapid expansion of a small family practice department. The positive experience of the University of Illinois at Chicago supports the notion that family practice is better suited to providing student health care than other primary care disciplines. Three issues are paramount to success: (1) approval, support, and protection by higher level administration from university territorialism, (2) a core family practice faculty with strong leadership and experience in high-volume clinical activity, and (3) a close examination of financial resources in light of expected utilization.