Medical group practice formation.

The vast majority of physicians remain in small, inefficient practices. True group practice formation has been slow to develop, leaving physicians vulnerable to problems as the rest of the health care industry moves toward modernization and consolidation. The idea of integrated health care systems consisting of medical practices working with hospitals or hospital systems is an unattainable dream as long as the underlying medical practices themselves are years behind in evolution. The author describes the many aspects of group practice formation, and why physicians must move quickly toward their development.