Will Private-Practice Medicine Survive?

Dr. Gerard Guillory, MD

In recent years, physicians have been making an exodus from private practice to take salaried positions in hospitals or with managed care organizations. Whereas 57% of all US physicians were in private practice in the year 2000, that statistic dropped to 37% in 2013. A recent report predicts that only 1 in 3 physicians will be practicing independently by the end of 2016.

 
The Medical Landscape

I have been practicing medicine for more than 30 years and have seen many changes in the medical landscape. A recent trend is that the business of running a private practice is becoming much more complicated and much more expensive. The work that used to be accomplished by 2 or 3 full-time support staff per provider now requires 5 or more. There are pre-certifications, referrals, electronic medical records, e-prescriptions, and disease management programs. Increased government regulations and guidelines have good intentions but effectively place a burden on independent physicians and small clinics. In this context, a 2012 survey of more than 80% of all US physicians found the following:

Over half of physicians surveyed have reached a tipping point and plan to make changes in their practices. Many intend to take one or more steps likely to reduce patient access to their services, limiting physician availability at a time when doctors are already in short supply.

There are a variety of ways that physicians are dealing with the increasing complexity and financial burden of private practice. Some are creating concierge services, where patients are required to pay an annual retainer fee to access care. Many are simply leaving private practice for paid positions at hospitals. I have chosen to do none of these things. We are fortunate to have a management company to handle the business of the practice so that our nurse practitioners, nutritionists, and I can continue to focus on what we are passionate about: helping patients.

My Commitment to Private Practice

The practice of medicine is fun and fulfilling for me because the majority of our patients feel better and appreciate our more natural approach.  It is important to me that when patients enter our office, they feel welcome and cared for. That is why I decide who should answer the phones, who should assist in patient care, how much time to spend with each patient, and, most importantly, what treatments are best suited for each individual. I am a board-certified internal medicine specialist, and my staff includes nurse practitioners and holistic nutritionists. We offer cutting-edge integrative medical protocols that go beyond the conventional care that is offered by more traditional medical practices. In addition, we offer pharmaceutical-grade dietary supplements to support our patients from the inside out. We are able to provide these unique services because I have kept control of my own practice. This is not big-box medicine and never will be. This is the Care Group. Despite the market pressures in medicine today, we are committed to offering the same personalized care that we have offered for decades. We believe that private-practice medicine will survive, and we look forward to seeing you at your next visit!

[1] Many U.S. Doctors Will Leave Private Practice for Hospital Employment, Accenture Reports. Accenture Web site. Updated July 29, 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/many-us-doctors-will-leave-private-practice-for-hospital-employment-accenture-reports.htm

[1] The Physicians Foundation. A Survey of America’s Physicians: Practice Patterns and Perspectives. September 2012.  http://www.physiciansfoundation.org/uploads/default/Physicians_Foundation_2012_Biennial_Survey.pdf