Dr. Concepcion on Urologist Practice Challenges

Raoul Concepcion, MD, director of clinical research, urologic surgeon, Urology Associates, PC, in Nashville, Tennessee discusses some of the challenges that independent and community urologists face.

Concepcion says the biggest challenges these physicians face is the threat of their groups being purchased by hospitals. Accountable care organizations (ACO) and the move into an integrative service model threaten independent urology.

With diminishing reimbursement and a push for the ACO model, Concepcion says, urologists feel pressure to sell to integrative systems. The problem with these integrative systems is that the autonomy of the physician practices is threatened.

Concepcion says it is unknown if the ACO model will thrive in the future as it was designed for primary practices, not specialty practices.