The Ecology of Group Medical Practice in the United States

Group medical practice has grown slowly but steadily in the United States, as measured by the proportion of physicians in such units; these proportions, however, differ markedly among the 50 states. Relationships were explored between ten socioenvironmental factors and seven medical resource factors associated with the strength of group practice in each state, using both simple correlations and multivariate techniques. The findings point to greatest group practice growth in newly settled regions of relatively low population density, suggesting the favorability of a nontraditional medical atmosphere and a rural environment for this type of professional innovation. Comparatively fewer hospital-based physicians and a lower overall doctor-population ratio are also involved. If group practice is to be promoted, the task will be to overcome the apparent handicaps of traditionalism and urbanization

Biology · Family medicine · Geography · Medical practice · Population · Sociology · Urbanization · Demography · Ecology · Global Health Workforce Issues · Healthcare Policy and Management · Medicine · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Psychology · Gerontology

• Medical Group Practice in the United States

  Larry J Freshnock, Louis J Goodman•Journal of Health and Social…•1979

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