The ACR’s new Community Practice Council (CPC) held its first meeting April 29 with 13 members present, along with representatives from the ACR Board of Directors and the chairs of the Committee on Rheumatologic Care and its Insurance Subcommittee. The council is part of an expanded effort to ensure the ACR is meeting the needs of rheumatologists in independent practice.
The meeting kicked off with a round of introductions. Although introductions at this type of meeting are typically uneventful, that was not the case for the CPC. As the introductions went around the table, members told unique and moving stories about their journeys to independent practice. They openly shared their passion for private practice, including the small business and property owner aspects, including human resources and building issues. The discussion focused on a few central themes.
Themes
One theme that emerged is that the CPC wants to be proactive in identifying ways to promote independent practice to experienced rheumatologists and fellows. Being an employed rheumatologist offers many benefits, such as stability and the ability to focus solely on treating patients. Thus, independent practice can seem somewhat scary and uncertain, especially to those new to the specialty.
Many CPC members remarked that they were nervous about going into independent practice. However, they found running and owning an independent practice rewarding and fulfilling. Most believe that more rheumatologists would likely choose this option if they heard more success stories and knew more of the benefits of owning a practice. Learning from others’ successes and how to meet and adapt to the unique challenges of independent practice can be just as useful as tools and resources.
One of the noted difficulties of independent practice is that clinicians can sometimes feel isolated or siloed. Many council members mentioned that few of their peers had established independent practices and they often lacked others with whom to discuss challenges. Creating a sense of community and a support system for independent practitioners is essential to encourage rheumatologists to choose this path.
Amid discussions of the challenges of independent practice, many benefits also became self-evident. Most who have embarked on this journey have an entrepreneurial spirit and tapping into that aspect of their personalities is a rewarding aspect of private practice. The group extolled the flexibility of private practice. Clinicians have established practices that fit their lifestyles and time requirements where they want to work, rather than having these aspects dictated by a corporate entity. Some also highlighted the sense of economic freedom, saying it outweighed the additional burden of being the person responsible for paying the bills and staff.
