Improving Physician Efficiency

A severe physician shortage is projected for at least the next 15 years. This was predicted even before healthcare reform added millions of insured people to the equation. The reasons include, but are not limited to, an increase in the aging population that needs more care, along with a large percentage of aging physicians who are expected to retire. And this shortage is expected for specialists as well as primary care.

So it only stands to reason that anything that improves the efficiency of that too small number of physicians will be extremely valuable—not only those innovations that save money, but also those that actually help a limited supply go further in delivering quality care.

Two models of reorganization may be especially effective in this regard:

1. The increasing consolidation of physicians into hospitals instead of private practice. One in six physicians in the US is now employed by hospitals, and that percentage is expected to grow, since almost 50% of new MDs went directly into hospital-owned practices last year, instead of taking the once popular step of going into private practice first.

   Like everyone else, most physicians are stretched very thin. In addition to providing a more predictable income stream, joining a hospital-owned practice relieves physicians of much of the administrative burden of running a small business. While some physicians no doubt enjoy this, many do not. Nor are they well-trained or necessarily efficient as small business people. It requires a whole different skill set and detracts from the efficient practice of medicine. Allowing physicians to focus on using the actual skills they spent years attaining should also increase satisfaction and decrease burnout.

2. Organization into Patient-Centered Medical Homes. This will be most effective at optimizing physician time for those who adjust their thinking to a true team approach, and give up the idea that the doctor is the one who has all the solutions. Having everyone “practicing at the top of their license,” with maximum appropriate involvement of nurses, PAs, pharmacists and other non-MD healthcare professionals will be absolutely vital for meeting the country’s healthcare needs. Last, but not least, here’s a shout out for the incorporation of Electronic Medical Records and the savings in errors and time they can provide, along with more empowerment for patients.

As these provider organizational changes continue to build momentum, all the other stakeholders in healthcare, including pharmaceutical companies and other suppliers, will need to keep evolving as well in order to support efficient, quality care within these models.