Why isn't there more content for physician owners?
In today’s digital healthcare landscape, there’s an abundance of information, but surprisingly, there’s limited thoughtful content on crucial topics like practice management, physician services, and how independent physicians can thrive amidst rapid changes.
This shortage of insightful content is particularly evident in OBGYN and women’s health, where the potential for better care for women remains largely untapped. Quite frankly, more needs to be written. Women’s care and how women can live healthier lives through all life stages just isn’t where it could be today. We need to start talking more about it.
I want to be a part of this process. I have been a part of women’s health for many years, professionally and personally. I even founded a nonprofit 15 years ago devoted to helping mothers and their families (www.kilifikids.org) that continues to operate today. I feel like I add something to a conversation worth having.
And I’m not new to blogging; I was the founder and lead blogger for the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s healthcare blog, HealthFlock (Link). I like to write and exchange ideas.
I want to make this blog different. My commitment is to create content that’s relevant and beneficial to you. It will be exclusively focused on women’s health, catering to OBGYNs, practice owners, and relevant professionals. I hold strong opinions and believe in fostering a collaborative environment for sharing ideas and experiences.
So let’s dive in.
It's really hard to run an OBGYN practice today.
Running a women’s health practice today poses unique challenges. I feel like I could write a lot about this and have a much longer list. Here are just a few things that come to mind:
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- Rising Costs: Operating costs are increasing, while reimbursement remains stagnant or even declining in some areas. Why is it like this? It’s very frustrating and not right.
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- Recruitment Struggles: Finding and retaining both physicians and clinical staff is becoming increasingly difficult, with shortages of OBGYNs evident. There is a lot of data on this like here:
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- Burnout Epidemic: Burnout among OBGYNs is a growing concern, especially after the challenges brought by COVID-19. Having friends and colleagues as doctors and clinical professionals, I see and hear this a lot.
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- Doctors Themselves Are Changing: In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, OBGYNs are not immune to change. For example, according to recent data, the average age of OBGYNs in the United States is increasing. In 2020, the median age of OBGYNs was 51 years, reflecting an aging workforce in the field. At the same time, we’re seeing that more and more younger doctors entering the field often have different priorities. Lifestyle considerations, work-life balance, and the desire for more flexible practice models are becoming increasingly important for new OBGYNs.
All things don’t have to change and some shouldn’t.
Amidst these challenges, some principles should remain unwavering. From working at large health systems to small healthcare start-ups, I have seen that a few things should always be the same. Healthcare, particularly women’s care, is unique to other sectors and I believe that successful and great practices carry certain core tenets:
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- Quality of Care: The standard of care for women should never be compromised. Regardless of changes in the healthcare landscape, the highest level of care must be upheld.
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- Physician Leadership: Physicians continue to play a pivotal role in care delivery, even in our increasingly complex world. While new models and innovations emerge, doctors and healthcare providers should lead clinical decision-making and continue to be decision-makers at any table.
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- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Physicians are also businesspeople who take risks and deserve rewards for building and growing their practices. Creativity and strategic thinking should guide practice growth.
Where do OBGYN owners go from here?
Balancing the roles of an active physician and entrepreneur is becoming increasingly challenging. Because of all the challenges noted earlier and much more, independent physicians are exploring new avenues to survive and thrive, often joining larger entities or finding ways to scale that works for them.
This isn’t inherently good or bad. While some OBGYNs find a positive experience in joining larger groups or hospitals, others may not. The outcome will vary dramatically based on the situation and people involved and will impact factors like income, workload, colleagues, and mission alignment. It is hard to give two great comparisons.
In this ever-changing OBGYN market, the path forward may not be obvious. It requires continuous learning, adopting best practices, leveraging tools, and understanding your priorities as a driver of change.
Let's start talking and jump in.
As the purpose of this blog, I’m excited to initiate a conversation with you. I’ll provide insights and share my experience to help you maximize the potential of running a medical clinic, serving your patients, and contributing to the well-being of women in your communities.
Hopefully, we both learn something from it and see what more can be done to help women thrive throughout all of life’s stages and raise the bar of women’s care.
One Response
Thanks for the article!