Multispecialty group practice is a practice that is composed of physicians from different specialty working collaboratively in the same health care facility to provide effective and efficient comprehensive health services to the patients (Pauly, 2009). Although multispecialty group practice is currently on the increase, it is not a guarantee that it will achieve economies of scope (Pauly, 2009). Besides, recent researches have shown that the economic advantage of this practice is its ability to coordinate care in a managed care setting, though it requires large practices (Robibson, 2010).
According to a qualitative research about group practices, more than 20% of health care facilities practice multispecialty group practice because of the potential for high quality and low cost through clinical coordination, economies of scale and the physicians’ culture of total responsibility (Pauly, 2009). Additionally, it is beneficial to the patients because the reception of multiple services at one place expedites referral process (Pauly, 2009). For instance, multispecialty practice may include specialists from orthopedics, cardiology, medicine, neurology and gynecology in one building to facilitate patients’ access to a well-coordinated standard care (Pauly, 2009).
Multispecialty group practice achieves economies of scale through purchasing of supplies and equipment in large volumes because it is always cheap to procure goods and services in large quantity (Robibson, 2010). Secondly, economies of scale is achieved through computerized information system because information technology saves on expenditure by cutting down on the cost of stationery (Pauly, 2009). Thirdly, economies of scale is achieved through the spread of insurance risk and access to financial capital at a lower interest rate and finally, the prominent name of multispecialty group practice in the community does not only attract the people at the grass root level but also experienced physicians and administrators (Robibson, 2010).
According to researches done, multispecialty group practice achieve economies of scope in the coordination of clinical care by combining the services provided by non-physicians, physicians and specialists (Pauly, 2009). Secondly, it achieves economies of scope by maintaining a balance in the health care professionals via avoiding of under capacity in physicians and overcapacity in specialists (Pauly, 2009). Finally, it achieves economies of scope by retaining the clinical accountability to their patients from their residence, through the outpatient, the inpatient and long-term care setting (Robibson, 2010). Moreover, multispecialty group practice can adapt a culture that involves physicians’ collaboration and group medicine through promotion and payment policies that promote a concern for the whole enterprise rather than one specialty (Pauly, 2009).
Multispecialty group practice has several advantages and to begin with, it is beneficial to the patients with multiple health care problems because it promotes an environment that motivates and enhances communication and collaboration leading to standard care (Robibson, 2010). Secondly, it offers all services at one stop and this time is saving to the patients because they will not require to visit another facility for extra services (Pauly, 2009). Thirdly, it provides an environment in which physicians can specialize and become experts in a particular area (Pauly, 2009). Finally, multispecialty group practices often provide services that are not available in many communities and this attract many people (Robibson, 2010).
In conclusion, multispecialty group practice needs to be adapted because as medicine grows, it becomes impossible for a single physician to know everything that the health care field has to offer (Pauly, 2009). Furthermore, the number of patients who require visiting a multi specialty group practice is on the increase (Robibson, 2010). For instance, there is an increase in the number of patients with multiple medical problems, atypical diseases, undiagnosed problems and complicated problems like heart diseases, cancer or stroke (Pauly, 2009).
References
Pauly, J. (2009). Should you Choose a Multispecialty Group Practice for your Care? Journal of Ambulatory Care Management , 20 (7), 780-800.
Robibson, A. (2010). The Limits of Prepaid Group Practice. Journal of Health Politics, Policies and Law , 65 (27), 199-211.