Many medical group leaders bemoan their group’s circumstances: caught in the hard place between increasing commoditization, what they believe to be the limitations of independent structure, and the pressure of national group competition.
As a result, they often believe in a future with limited choice: sell to, or be subsumed by, a large national group.
But for those capable of strategic thinking and not merely tactical action or, even worse, simply reaction, there are multiple choices. For example, radically changing your business structure and method of business, merging with other independent groups, linking through MSO-like structures, and the creation of joint ventures which provide both projection of significant size and preservation of independent business structure.
Unfortunately, even when they become aware of these alternatives, and of their mix and match nature, too many group leaders become confused. They don’t know what the next step is, they don’t know how to get from where they are to where they want to be. As a result, they stop. Paralyzed. In place.
The thought tool to change this is simple. First, don’t think about moving from where you are to where you want to be. That too often leads to simply improving your current situation, which is akin to building a fancier building on top of a known fault line. Instead, use your desired destination stage to pull you toward its completion. Take one step in that direction. Then take the next.
Will you succeed? There’s no guaranty. But at least you won’t be frozen; the deer in the headlights of another group’s success.
