Children's Hospital CEO Talks Strategy

Hospitals face uncertainty in the years ahead as they adjust to changes in federal law and cuts in funding. Despite that, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is expanding on multiple fronts. Inquirer staff writer Chelsea Conaboy spoke with chief executive officer Steven Altschuler about how growth is part of his coping plan.

Question: Children's recently partnered with Virtua's South Jersey hospitals. What's the strategy?

Steven Altschuler: Our view is that you try to care for the patient in the most appropriate venue, based on their acuity, or how sick they are. If you are a kid that has an ear infection, you can be seen in a primary-care office. If you have recurrent infections and need ear tubes, that can done in a day surgical unit off campus. Our relationships with community hospitals are quite important, first as a source of referrals, and to make sure we have a proper complement of these different venues.