Independent Medical Practice Resources And Health Care

By Ann Meyer


Opening a private practice is not always an easy task for new or existing physicians. Whereas, the association of independent medical practice resources is attempting to make it easier. In addition, it could also be the right move for new graduates and others as there is a huge shortage of doctors and medical staff currently working in the private sector.

Due to the number of independent offices which have been acquired by, or sold to equity firms and hospitals, private practices are approaching critical conditions. For, in most cases, the doctors and staff at the private practice become employees of the clinic or hospital whom acquired the facility. As such, it is a situation which is not healthy nor beneficial for doctors or staff put in this position.

Studies have shown that when this happens, health care costs often go up while quality goes down. Whereas, access to care can be limited or lost, thus leaving doctors feeling less satisfied while communities are left vulnerable to a higher rate of illness and financial difficulty. The situation has become so dire that The Association of Independent Doctors or AID, is now attempting to stop and prevent these take overs from happening in the future.

In studies performed and provided by AID, the consolidation of health care providers from the private sector into clinics and hospitals has also resulted in an increase in health insurance premiums. For example, since the trend started, studies show there has been an ongoing increase in the cost of health insurance. As a result, in a country where there are already too many people which can not afford premiums, the association finds this unacceptable.

AID is a national 503(c) non-profit trade association. The group was formed to raise awareness in regard to the negative impact this practice has on the American health care system. If fact, more than one author and those in the medical community have suggested that these acquisitions and consolidations have only complicated rather than eliminated issues in the field.

AID was born out of frustration by the negative impact left by these acquisitions. The organization was started by two certified public accountants in Florida in 2013. Since that time, the association has been representing doctors which have lacked a collective voice in stopping in the process, that is until now.

Physicians, clients and others can discover more about AID by visiting the organization's website. Whereas, doctors and other visitors to the site can view a number of videos to learn how to help stop these take overs from happening. After which, AID hopes that a number of new medical school graduates, and those whom have been working in clinics and hospitals will either open a new private practice or re-open a former one.

The acquisitions are destroying the lives of doctors, medical staff and others working in an area which is already in crisis. While this is the case, the association hopes to stop, if not at least slow down the trend in the near future. For, while those acquiring the private practices suggest doing so is for positive reasons, most often it is a measure to reduce competition, lower salaries and increase rates for services provided.




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