As part of its Better Sooner More Convenient health care strategy, the Government is encouraging GPs and other health providers to group together into Integrated Family Health Centres (IFHCs). This business model is expected to provide benefits to both patient and practitioner.

The patient benefits from having access to a wide range of medical services under one roof, and the practice owner can share support, administration staff and infrastructure costs with others. In some cases, practitioners will own the practice itself, and outside investors own the bricks and mortar.

The strategy is based on sound economic and business theory. Reality, however, is another matter.

The New Zealand Medical Association reports that progress of current IFHCs is inconsistent. Our own research, and industry experience, also indicate that well-managed smaller GP practices (even sole operators) often produce greater revenue on a per full time equivalent GP basis than multi-GP groups.

How to set meaningful goals and to achieve them

This blog focuses on something that many doctors neglect. Because of the prescribed course that a medical career can take many doctors don’t set defined goals and just go with the flow. While this can seem like the easiest option it leaves a lot to chance. This blog shares a new way of setting meaningful goals that has the ability to put your goals on steroids!