Why Independent Practices Need to Survive and Thrive
- The Numbers: In 2012, nearly half of all doctors owned their own practice. By 2018, that dropped to about 31%.
- Rural Areas: Small towns are hitting the hardest. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of independent rural doctors plummeted by 43%.
- The Reason: Large corporations can handle the high costs and paperwork more easily, and some doctors prefer being employees to avoid the headache of running a business.
Why Patients Care
Patients generally love their doctors but hate “the system.” Independent offices often offer what patients want most: Better Relationships:: 92% of patients are happy with their primary doctor. They want to see the same person they trust, not a random face in a giant system. More Time: Only 35% of patients feel their doctor has enough time for them. Independent doctors often have more flexibility to spend extra minutes with a patient compared to doctors working under strict corporate quotas. Less Bureaucracy: Patients are frustrated by insurance companies and administrators making medical decisions. Independent offices often prioritize the patient-doctor bond over corporate checklists.Why Doctors Care
Many doctors choose to stay independent for one main reason: Freedom.
- Clinical Autonomy: Independent doctors get to decide the best way to treat their patients without a hospital executive telling them which tests to run or which specialists to use.
- Less Burnout: Over 50% of doctors say that paperwork and “third-party” rules (from insurance and big systems) get in the way of good care. Running their own practice lets them regain control over their schedule and how they work.
The Bottom Line
When independent practices disappear, choices disappear. Protecting these small offices isn’t just about business; it’s about making sure patients can find a doctor who has the time to listen, and ensuring doctors have the freedom to provide the best care possible.“How has your experience been—do you prefer the convenience of a large medical center or the personal touch of a smaller office?”
| 2018 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Not at all | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Little | 8.8% | 8.0% |
| Somewhat | 26.6% | 17.6% |
| A good deal | 33.0% | 33.4% |
| A great degree | 29.0% | 38.7% |
Better Care, Lower Costs
Most doctors are skeptical that big hospital systems actually help patients save money or get better care.
The Worry: Roughly 67% of doctors believe that when large corporations buy up practices, it actually makes it harder for patients to get high-quality, affordable care.
The Reality: Many doctors believe that independent offices can offer the same (or better) quality of care at a lower cost because they don’t have the massive overhead and price markups of a giant hospital system.
Fighting Burnout
Running a business is hard, but working for a “boss” in a hospital can be harder on a doctor’s mental health.
Freedom to Choose: Independent doctors get to hire their own staff, create their own office culture, and decide exactly how they want to treat people.
Efficiency: Interestingly, doctors who work for big hospitals actually work more hours but see fewer patients than independent doctors. This suggests that “employed” doctors spend a huge chunk of their day doing corporate paperwork instead of actual medicine.
The Big Picture: Quality vs. Quantity
When a doctor owns their practice, their “boss” is the patient. When a hospital owns the practice, the “boss” is a board of directors. Doctors choose independence so they can keep their focus on the person in the exam room rather than the corporate bottom line.
Summary Table: Independent vs. Employed Doctors
| Feature | Independent Doctors | Employed (Hospital) Doctors |
|---|---|---|
| Main Goal | Patient care & clinical freedom | Meeting corporate/hospital goals |
| Efficiency | See more patients in fewer hours | Work more hours, see fewer patients |
| Costs | Often lower for the patient | Often higher due to hospital fees |
| Work-Life | High responsibility, but high control | Less business stress, but high burnout |
The Real Cost of Burnout
New data from McKinsey highlights why this matters so much:
Schedule Control: 66% of doctors who are unhappy with their schedules experience burnout.
The Looming Exit: About 35% of physicians say they are likely to leave their current roles in the next five years. Of those, 60% plan to stop seeing patients entirely.
The Solution: Independent practice gives doctors the power to fix their own schedules, which is the #1 way to prevent them from quitting medicine.
Moving Beyond “Seeing More Patients”
In a traditional office, the only way to make more money is to see more people. This leads to 10-minute visits and exhausted doctors. Entrepreneurial physicians are now looking for passive income—revenue that doesn’t require them to be in the exam room.
Real-World Example: Dr. Rohit Goyal: Dr. Goyal, a managing partner at a pulmonary practice, realized he couldn’t just “cut costs” to survive.
Chronic Care Management (CCM): This is a program where staff (not just the doctor) checks in on patients with long-term health issues between office visits.
The Results: By using a system like WellWink Health, his practice was able to help over 1,300 patients more effectively, increase annual revenue by 15%, and maintain a high profit margin—all without the doctor having to work extra hours.
The “New” Independent Practice
In 2026, being an independent doctor doesn’t mean being alone. Doctors are using new tools to compete with giant hospitals: Passive Revenue: Programs like CCM and Remote Patient Monitoring pay doctors for the “hidden” work they already do (like calling patients or coordinating care). Smart Tech: Using AI and digital tools to handle intake and scheduling, so the front desk isn’t overwhelmed. Collaboration: Smaller offices are joining forces to buy supplies at a discount, just like the big hospital chains do.Independent practice is no longer just “the old-fashioned way.” It is becoming a high-tech, entrepreneurial choice. By finding ways to earn income that isn’t tied to every single minute of their time, doctors can spend more time with the patients who need them most and less time worrying about keeping the lights on.
WellWink Health, LLC is a leading technology company that specializes in providing innovative solutions for the healthcare industry. With a dedicated focus on patient engagement and care coordination (CCM/RPM), our mission is to empower medical practices and healthcare facilities to deliver exceptional patient experiences and improve overall health outcomes.
To get in touch call us right now at (848)-291-2430 to learn more about our CCM program or you can also book a 30 min free consultation.
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