Physician organization is a process that involves bringing together healthcare professionals and supporting them in collaboration and sharing of resources. Such organizations are a valuable partner for health systems seeking to strengthen the quality of care and reduce costs for patients, employers and insurers. They can also improve efficiency, enhance patient outcomes and increase access to services.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals are increasingly organized at their workplaces, forming medical associations and groups, and in some cases forming unions. This is occurring at a time when many doctors are struggling with burnout, and as their employment status shifts from independent practitioner to employee of a health system or hospital.

A medical association is an organization of physicians, often non-physician health professionals or students that has a formal governance structure and a clear mission to advance its members’ professional interests and the public interest through education, advocacy, research and/or provision of healthcare services. A medical association may be a not-for-profit, for-profit or charitable entity. Its membership is primarily composed of physicians, but it can include nurses and other health professionals and individuals who share the association’s mission.

Doctor groups can be organized at the local, state or national level. Examples of local groups include physician associations, practice management organizations and medical societies. These groups provide a range of services for doctors, including legislative advocacy, continuing education, peer review and malpractice support. They also offer opportunities to develop leadership skills and participate in initiatives that address community needs.

An example of a national group is the World Organization of Family Medicine (WONCA). Its international membership includes doctors, nurses and other health professionals from 67 countries and territories. The organization has an Advisory Council to guide its strategic directions and to ensure that the views of all stakeholders are considered in decision-making. It also has working parties, special interest groups and young doctors’ movements that carry out the work between World Council meetings.

PHOs, which bring together a group of providers like doctors and hospitals, can also help with the delivery of healthcare. They can negotiate contracts with insurance carriers, reduce administrative costs and provide a larger network for patients. They can also facilitate the coordination of patient care across different settings and allow for more efficient use of hospital resources.

While the advantages for doctors are obvious, patients also benefit from a PHO’s collaboration with their physicians to deliver care. Patients receive more coordinated and comprehensive care, reducing the risk of medical errors, a decrease in overall cost and improved patient satisfaction.

The challenges for today’s physicians are numerous, with burnout and a lack of adequate resources being top concerns. It is important for organizations to make it as easy as possible for doctors to express their concerns and participate in improvement efforts that align with their professional values and interests. Otherwise, the call for doctors to organize could escalate from a vision into a reality. The future of healthcare depends on it.