What future for solo general practice?
Marketing theory predicts that solo general practitioners are disadvantaged financially when compared to doctors practising in groups. This is supported by a 1985 random survey of Auckland general practitioners. This shows solo practitioners to have had a significantly lower net and gross income than did group practitioners in the time period 1981-82 to 1984-85. The difference is due to the combined effect of solo practitioners charging marginally lower fees, and seeing less patients weekly than did group practitioners. These results are discussed from a marketing perspective.
McCormick
I R
IR
Department of General Practice, University of Auckland School of Medicine.
Thomson
A N
AN
D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006123:Group Practice / Q000639:trends; D007182:Income / Q000639:trends; D009520:New Zealand; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population