For the first years of my career, I practiced as a solo ophthalmologist. Then, for a period of time, I practiced with just one other associate. I now work with a group of six physicians with one more starting later this year. As such, I have personal experience with solo, small and large practices and can thus speak from first-hand knowledge.
What are Advantages of a Larger Medical Practice?
In my opinion, larger multi-doctor eye care practices do offer definite advantages. With the explosion of technology, an ophthalmologist cannot be effective or provide superior care with just the basic equipment. Sophisticated computerized devices like visual field perimetry, ocular coherence tomography, electroretinography, etc., all assist a physician in diagnosis and appropriate management of ocular disease. One simply cannot provide superior care without ancillary technology. The problem is that while these devices are necessary and even essential, they are by no means inexpensive. Each device costs many thousands of dollars, some running into the hundreds of thousands. For a solo or even a two or three physician practice, these devices are just too costly to obtain.
Also, there are advantages of practicing with a group of physicians, each with different strengths and expertise. Consulting with other doctors on difficult or unusual cases makes for better patient care. Being able to obtain an immediate consult provides a dialog and consensus as to the best treatment. It also saves patients time and money as they do not have to go to an outside practice.
Finally, a larger multi-doctor practice allows each patient the advantages of extended office hours, more availability and even more choice. A single physician cannot offer night or weekend appointments and may not always be available, as when they are in the operating room or on vacation. Each physician’s personality is a “fit” for a certain group of individuals and patients are happiest and most likely to comply with treatment when they feel a compatibility with their physician. For a practice with multiple doctors, patients have the opportunity to easily switch and find their ideal “match”. Also, a larger practice offers an “economy of scale”, passing cost savings to their patients.
So, for all these reasons, I believe that a larger multi-doctor practice offers the most advantages both for the physicians and for their patients.
By Dr. Richard Carlin
Dr. Carlin is a highly experienced, board-certified ophthalmologist and Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology with more than five decades of experience in vision care and surgical innovation. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, he completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan before serving in the United States Navy in Key West, Florida. In 1977, he founded CarlinVision and has since built a longstanding reputation for excellence in LASIK, cataract surgery, refractive procedures, and cosmetic eyelid surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Carlin has completed more than 11,000 procedures and remains at the forefront of advanced laser and refractive technologies. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an active member of multiple leading professional organizations, reflecting his enduring commitment to clinical excellence and patient care.