As the physician employment trend continues, the word is out on its progress. Here is a roundup of the recent research and surveys on the state of physician practice, integration and employment.
1. Employment does not necessarily improve patient access. This survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins indicates employed physicians actually see 19 percent fewer patients than practice owners.
2. Employment may also not have an effect on the quality of care. This study suggests employment has no effect on risk-adjusted hospital-level mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, length of stay and patient satisfaction scores for common medical conditions.
3. More physician practice owners are familiar with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act than employed physicians. Read more here about physicians' familiarity with the law.
4. Rapid physician practice consolidation continues, according to a study from Leavitt Partners that shows physicians in practices of 100 or more grew from 29.6 percent of physicians in 2013 to 35.1 percent in 2015.
5. Meanwhile, more hospitals are buying up physician practices. This study, conducted by Avalere Health, shows one in four practices was hospital owned by mid 2015, and that 40 percent of the nation's physicians were employed at that time.
6. The state of the industry has led nearly half of physicians to accelerate their retirement plans, according to a survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins. Read more here.
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DuPage Medical Group buys women's clinic
Tufts medical school receives $15M gift