S.C. hospitals gobble up doctor practices in evolving healthcare environment

For almost 28 years, Dr. Carolyn Fields ran her primary-care practice on her own. But in June, she became an employee of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. Across the nation hospitals are acquiring more physician practices as they prepare to move away from a fee-for-service reimbursement system to one that focuses more on quality outcomes and containing costs.