Why target small and medium-sized practices?
Approximately 66% of ACP’s members who provide direct patient care work in practices of 10 or fewer physicians (approximately 46,000 physicians); 50% are in practices of 5 physicians or less. The promulgation of measures and programs that link compensation, public reporting, and technology implementation to achieving better clinical outcomes is coming at a time of economic stress for most small practices. While these programs and legislative agendas are being proposed in the interest of promoting quality and efficiency, there is real concern that without successful models of patient-centered practice redesign and support to achieve the necessary changes in the small practice environment, the unintended consequences of reduced access, persistent quality gaps and lack of innovation will prevail – or even increase.
