Different Types of Medical Practices?

Patients have different needs, so different types of medical practices exist to deliver the most
effective medical care. The primary different types of medical practices include:

 Private Practices: Also known as solo practices, these structures involve one doctor
practicing medicine alone, building their own brand. The physician can join an
independent practice association or be completely solo. Private practices mean the most
flexibility and control for medical professionals, but they also mean the most risk and the
most work.
 Group Practices: These can involve just a few physicians or vast teams of
professionals who share in the work, administration, decision-making and risk of running
a practice. Group practices can be either multi-specialty practices, offering multiple
professionals in different fields, or single-specialty practices, attracting clients for one
type of treatment or medical condition. Group practices reduce some of the individual
risks, but they may also mean less independence for each individual practitioner.
 Locum Tenens: This position allows physicians to be hired for a specific location for
temporary, short-term work. This highly flexible work structure allows medical
professionals to choose their location and hours, and these positions tend to offer high
pay when compared with other types of medical work.
 Integrated Delivery Systems: These usually involve physicians working in a
system, which can include multiple clinics and a big hospital. The advantage is support
and administration provided by a larger hospital, as well as easy access to hospital
facilities. Medical professionals also enjoy generous benefits and a reliable income, but
they may also have less flexibility, as they need to abide by hospital policy.
 Hospital-Based Work: Some hospitals hire medical professionals outright as an
employee. This can mean plenty of referrals and steady pay, although this type of work
also means physicians must comply with hospital policy. They may also have to perform
hospital committee work, although the hospital handles benefits and administrative work.
 Health Maintenance Organizations: Physicians hired by HMOs provide medical
services to beneficiaries or members of their specific HMO. Since medical professionals
are employees and not partners, they have less independence than with a group
practice, as the HMO will have its own regulations. The benefits of working for an HMO
include less administration work, steady pay and regular work hours. Some HMOs also
employ physicians as independent contractors rather than employees, offering some
flexibility.

Physicians can excel in all of these structures, but no matter the practice, robust
malpractice insurance is essential. For group and private practices where doctors are
partners or owners, insurance coverage mitigates risk and allows physicians to focus on
patients. For HMOs, integrated delivery systems and other types of medical practice
settings where medical professionals are employees, administrators and decision-
makers need to provide excellent coverage to protect their organization and retain the
best talent.
 What is a patient portal?
A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal
health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password,
patients can view health information such as:

o Recent doctor visits

o Discharge summaries
o Medications
o Immunizations
o Allergies
o Lab results

Some patient portals also allow you to:

o Securely message your doctor

o Request prescription refills
o Schedule non-urgent appointments
o Check benefits and coverage
o Update contact information
o Make payments
o Download and complete forms
o View educational materials

With your patient portal, you can be in control of your health and care. Patient portals can also save
your time, help you communicate with your doctor, and support care between visits.