Multi-specialty Practice Perfect

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor Mountain View Medical & Surgical Associates, Madras, Oregon

One of the benefits of working in a multispecialty practice is the sense of collegiality it produces. I have been with my current multispecialty practice position for about one year, and my situation is slightly different from others, because I work in a practice attached to a hospital, in a rural town, with one other group primary care practice in town. As such, this provides a strong opportunity to know all my referring physicians, as well as other doctors with whom I might not normally interact.

The collegiality I mention above is evidenced by the casual familiarity the clinicians have with each other. For example, if I have a question about a mutual patient referred within the practice, I can simply walk over and discuss the issue with my colleague. The converse is true for them: if one of the primary care physicians has a patient they’re concerned about, they’ll speak with me directly, and we can more expediently set up a consultation. This potentially rapid response to their needs always impresses patients, while providing superior medical care. The face-to-face conversation also prevents miscommunication, since I’m obtaining the history directly from the horse’s mouth.

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This situation has the added benefit of continuing my intellectual exposure to other areas of the medical field.  From an educational standpoint, I can continue to remain current on various aspects of medicine I might not have access to in a private podiatric practice.  For example, I recently had a conversation with our practice’s general surgeon about breast cancer that prompted me to do some of my own independent research.  Now, granted this has little to do with podiatry, but apply this to medicine in general, and it’s clear that both my patients and I will benefit in the long run.  I have also had very stimulating discussions with our nutritionist/diabetes educator, who has a wealth of diabetic knowledge.

From a marketing standpoint, I am in constant contact with many of my referring physicians and other specialists.  I’m sure that, after just having a conversation with me in the hallway, the physicians are more likely to refer their patients to me.  My face is ever present in their minds.

As with anything, disadvantages to the system exist.  First and foremost is the lack of control by the physicians.  If a staffer is working poorly, I do not have direct control over the action taken.  The same is true for overall practice expenses.  This lack of control is the very reason many physicians cite for opening their own practice.  I think, though, the benefits of this practice type are becoming increasingly recognized on a national level.  Isn’t this “team approach” the very style exemplified by Dr. John Steinberg’s group at Georgetown University?  In fact, his group even lectures on the team approach to limb salvage.  The informal cooperation and interaction I experience in my office is now being institutionalized at one of our nationally leading limb salvage centers with significant results.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, we may find this method of physician interaction to expand the efficiency and power of our medical system.  For those of you involved in multispecialty groups, what benefits and disadvantages do you experience?  Share your comments...

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Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor
[email protected]

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