At AAOS, Should Product Companies Fear Physician Employment?

By some estimates, nearly half of all physicians in certain specialties are no longer independent practitioners, but work within some collaborative arrangement with hospitals as full-time employees. Cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons are leading the way, but orthopedic surgeons aren't far behind. In a session at this year's American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting, entitled "Hospitals Buying Surgeon Group Practices: Passing Trend or New Paradigm?," surgeons, hospital executives, and consultants offered their thoughts as to where this trend might lead.