Can Primary Care Physicians Remain Independent?

The Alo team consistently hears two concerns from independent physician practice leaders: You want to continue making your own decisions about patient care and your business, and you want to make the right decisions now to forge a sustainable path forward for your practice. Paul Hain, MD, Alo’s chief clinical officer, shares how practices can achieve both in this new video.

Video transcript:

“I'm Dr. Paul Hain, Chief Clinical Officer at Alo. Over the past year, I've had the pleasure of speaking with physicians across North Carolina who own and operate independent practices. When I ask them what's important to them as practice owners, they tell me it's two things. One, they want to continue their independence, making their own decisions about patient care and how to manage their practices.

Two, they're finding it hard to choose a path forward as financial pressures grow and as more practices get bought out. I've got good news. It is possible to maintain your independence. It is possible to create a financially sustainable and thriving practice, even as health care gets more complex. The way to achieve these goals is to collaborate with your peers who are facing similar challenges.

At Alo, we offer a collaboration path that gives independent physicians a chance to work with each other and gain the benefits of strength in numbers, all while maintaining practice ownership and autonomy. It's called the Alo Clinically Integrated Network. The Alo CIN is a physician-led network that encourages peer support and gives participating doctors a say in goal setting, planning, and monitoring performance.

Here's how it works. Alo facilitates data sharing and clinical guidelines across the patient population within the CIN. We provide access to best practices, resources, and professional development. We provide recommendations for high-quality, cost-effective referrals. Physicians can always send patients to any specialist that fits their practice style.

By creating this additional value, participants gain access to collective fee-for-service contracting. Because we're a clinically integrated network, you can still stay in your ACO just like you've always been. The key for independent practices is to find the right partner. Most don't have the resources to build their own CIN or ACO. We do that work for you, giving you the freedom and flexibility to provide the best care for your patients while maintaining independence.

Unlike CINs that revolve around the large healthcare system, the Alo CIN is based on a physician-led governance model. We're here to support the independent physician community in North Carolina. We know you're facing a lot of challenges and a lot of decisions. I'm looking forward to meeting and working with more doctors across the state as we collaborate for the benefit of our patients.”