A doctor organization (PHO) is a formal alliance between hospitals and physicians that allows healthcare providers to work together to enhance patient care. These organizations are an increasingly important part of the delivery of healthcare. PHOs provide a range of benefits for physicians, patients and the healthcare system.

A PHO can improve the coordination of care and support for primary medical services, specialty services and hospital services. It can also facilitate the transfer of patients between healthcare settings. This can help to reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of patient care. PHOs can also help to improve the quality of healthcare delivery by enabling physicians to deliver more integrated and efficient medical care.

Physicians who choose to work with a PHO can receive performance incentives, such as bonuses and rewards based on meeting certain quality metrics. These incentives can encourage physician participation and increase their satisfaction with their job. They can also benefit from a greater range of administrative and business support, which they may not have otherwise had access to.

The decision to join a PHO can also have an impact on how physicians choose to conduct their practice. Some physicians might decide to take a more active role in the organization of their practice and participate in leadership positions. Others might prefer to continue their career as independent contractors. Regardless of their preference, all doctors should be aware that the current workplace environment has created a growing sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with the practice of medicine. Many doctors feel like they have lost their autonomy and independence as more and more of the medical workplace shifts to hospital ownership, for-profit purchase of physician groups, and large scale consolidation.

As a result, some doctors are turning to unionization in order to address these issues and regain their power. However, it is important to remember that, with only about 5% of private sector workers belonging to unions, the process of traditional unionization will likely be long and drawn-out. Moreover, even if physicians manage to gain the strength of a collective voice through unionization, they will have to work hard to preserve their ability to practice independently and maintain their ethical values.

The AMA is working to ensure that physicians remain free to make the decisions they believe are in their patients’ best interests. The organization has developed a number of policy papers on this issue and will continue to publish additional materials.

For a full list of the most recent publications, visit our Policy Papers page.

This article was updated on September 11, 2024.

In the United States, a PHO is a legal entity that can be created by hospitals or a group of physicians in collaboration with one another. A medical organization is any group of healthcare professionals that has a common goal, such as the advancement of healthcare or the pursuit of patient-centered care. A medical association is a membership organization that represents these groups.