Diplomate Spotlight Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook Read Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook
Phoenix Newsletter - July 2025 Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration Read Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration
Home Research Research Library Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care Solo and Small Practices: A Vital, Diverse Part of Primary Care 2016 Author(s) Liaw, Winston R, Jetty, Anuradha, Petterson, Stephen M, Peterson, Lars E, and Bazemore, Andrew W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care Keyword(s) Practice Organization / Ownership, and Rural Volume Annals of Family Medicine Source Annals of Family Medicine PURPOSE: Solo and small practices are facing growing pressure to consolidate. Our objectives were to determine (1) the percentage of family physicians in solo and small practices, and (2) the characteristics of and services provided by these practices. METHODS: A total of 10,888 family physicians seeking certification through the American Board of Family Medicine in 2013 completed a demographic survey. Their practices were split into categories by size: solo, small (2 to 5 providers), medium (6 to 20 providers), and large (more than 20 providers). We also determined the rurality of the county where the physicians practiced. We developed 2 logistic regression models: one assessed predictors of practicing in a solo or small practice, while the other was restricted to solo and small practices and assessed predictors of practicing in a solo practice. RESULTS: More than one-half of respondents worked in solo or small practices. Small practices were the largest group (36%) and were the most likely to be located in a rural setting (20%). The likelihood of having a care coordinator and medical home certification increased with practice size. Physicians were more likely to be practicing in small or solo practices (vs medium-sized or large ones) if they were African American or Hispanic, had been working for more than 30 years, and worked in rural areas. Physicians were more likely to be practicing in small practices (vs solo ones) if they worked in highly rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Family physicians in solo and small practices comprised the majority among all family physicians seeking board certification and were more likely to work in rural geographies. Extension programs and community health teams have the potential to support transformation within these practices. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2023 The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review Go to The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review 2023 Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings Go to Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings 2014 Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage Go to Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage 2016 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification
Author(s) Liaw, Winston R, Jetty, Anuradha, Petterson, Stephen M, Peterson, Lars E, and Bazemore, Andrew W Topic(s) Role of Primary Care Keyword(s) Practice Organization / Ownership, and Rural Volume Annals of Family Medicine Source Annals of Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2023 The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review Go to The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review 2023 Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings Go to Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings 2014 Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage Go to Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage 2016 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification
2023 The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review Go to The Impact of Interpersonal Continuity of Primary Care on Health Care Costs and Use: A Critical Review
2023 Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings Go to Characteristics of Family Physicians Who Work in Integrated Behavioral Health Practice Settings
2014 Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage Go to Effectiveness over efficiency: underestimating the primary care physician shortage
2016 Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification Go to Family Physicians’ Quality Interventions and Performance Improvement for Hypertension through Maintenance of Certification
