More physicians leaving private practices

NEW YORK, June 14 (UPI) -- A survey by Accenture indicates more U.S. physicians are selling their private practices to work at larger healthcare systems.

By 2013, less than one-third of U.S. physicians are expected to remain in private practice and patients may increasingly find that being treated by physicians in private, small practice settings may be a thing of the past.

"Health reform is challenging the entire system to deliver improved care through insight driven health," Kristin Ficery, a senior executive at Accenture Health, says in a statement.

Physicians tell the survey that they are increasingly attracted to the benefits offered by hospital-based employment opportunities, which include: relief from administrative responsibilities; greater access to leading healthcare information technology tools, facilities and equipment; and a more manageable work week and stability.

"We see an increasing number of physicians leaving private practice to join hospital systems, which will force all stakeholders to revise and refine their business models, product offerings and service strategies," Ficery says.

Accenture conducted in-person and phone interviews with hospital executives and industry stakeholders between September to November last year and the analysis was completed in 2011.