Why the Alo | Avance Care Model Works for Physicians
Working as an employed physician and now in an independent practice, I’ve seen firsthand how the independent, comprehensive model is one of the strongest ways to help both patients and physicians.
I say this knowing full well the financial challenges independent physicians face. The past decade has seen a strong tide of physicians trading their independence for a steady paycheck. For example, in 2012, 60% of physicians owned their practices. Ten years later, that proportion had dropped to 47%, according to the American Medical Association.
Despite the challenges in building and maintaining a thriving practice, I believe independent practices can have a bright future.
Patients obviously care about getting to know and trust their doctors. They don’t want to feel rushed through each appointment. They want to know that when their doctor refers them to a specialist or another healthcare provider, they’ll be going to someone they can have an equal amount of trust in.
This trust-based relationship between patients and primary care is where independent practices stand out. It’s what patients desire. There will always be demand for medical settings where patients can see the same professionals over a long period of time.
I joined the Avance Care network of practices in February this year after practicing 15 years in large healthcare systems. The business model from Alo and Avance Care means that independent clinicians like me have all the support they need, from executive leadership on down, to focus on providing the best possible care without having to pull a second full-time shift for all the business and administrative matters that go into running a practice.
As one of the relatively few primary care physicians who has made the transition from employed to independent, I’ve found three things that stand out about the way Alo and Avance Care conduct business: Autonomy, flexibility, and trust.
Autonomy. Independent primary care physicians have more control over decisions related to patient care, business operations, and practice management than their counterparts working for health systems. Independents tend to have the ability to practice without feeling the pressure - real or perceived - to refer patients to clinics and hospitals only within the system they work for.
Of course, physicians employed by health systems do great work every day, no different from independent physicians. I saw it and lived it with my former colleagues. But employed physicians can feel devalued if they’re recognized and rewarded primarily for generating more revenue through referrals.
Flexibility. As an Avance Care physician I have the flexibility to take care of my patients the best way I know how, and offer them the services and conveniences that sometimes aren’t possible in other settings.
My patients are able to get same-day and next-day appointments. And they don’t have to start over when they need to see a behavioral health clinician or a nutritionist, for example - those services are embedded within Avance Care practices. To be able to say “Let me introduce you to my colleague in behavioral health, she’s 20 feet away” is really powerful.
Trust. Patients are looking for stronger, longer-term relationships with their clinicians. They’re not satisfied with taking potluck on which clinician happens to be in on the day of the appointment or having to wait six weeks to see their regular doctor.
Developing trust in the patient relationship takes time. It simply can’t be done in 15-minute increments. I take whatever time is necessary to ensure that patients understand me and have plenty of opportunities to ask questions. One of my main responsibilities is to have patients come away from each encounter knowing more about their health than they did before.
I don’t know any physicians who would downplay the importance of having autonomy, flexibility and trust at the heart of how they practice medicine. The beauty of all three is that they’re fully compatible with financial success. Independent practices that follow the Avance Care model are well-positioned to offer physicians what they’re looking for—a thriving, sustainable practice.
