Review the following scenario:
You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of a 200-bed nonprofit community hospital that serves a rural community with a population of 50, 000. The demographics include a median household income of $38,000. Currently, slightly less than half of the population (45%) has employer-sponsored insurance, with 35% having a combination of Medicare and private supplemental insurance and the remaining 20% being uninsured. The population is aging, with 40% of the population expected to reach Medicare eligibility age within the next 5 years, where employer-sponsored insurance will shift to Medicare or a combination of Medicare and other supplemental insurance.
A group of internal medicine physicians specializing in geriatric medicine, including joint replacement surgeries, is looking to expand their services. The physician group has approached the hospital about merging their services with the hospital and expanding the hospital to include an ambulatory care center and outpatient surgical center.
Based on your analysis of the scenario, explain the potential risks and benefits of the merger. Be sure to address the following:
Write a 3-page paper in Word format. Utilize 23 SCHOLARLY sources in your research. Your paper should be clear, concise, and organized; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.