Medical Staff

Study: Physicians shifting into specialty practices

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, September 5, 2007

The proportion of U.S. physicians in solo or dual practices during 1996 to 2005 dropped by 20%, according to Center for Studying Health System Change report.

According to the article, the proportion of solo or two-physician practices dropped to 32.5% from 40.7% during that 10-year period, primarily because medical and surgical specialists moved into larger, single-specialty practices.

Meanwhile, the article reports, the percentage of primary care physicians in solo and dual practices held even at approximately 36% during the same period.

The center's president, Paul Ginsberg, is quoted in the article as saying that the trend toward larger, single-specialty practices was spurred by financial concerns rather than a movement to improve patient care.

To access the center's research results, go to www.hschange.com/index.cgi?file=about.

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