Employed physicians outnumber self-employed

CHICAGO — For the first time in the United States, employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians, according to a newly updated study on physician practice arrangements by the American Medical Association (AMA). This milestone marks the continuation of a long-term trend that has slowly shifted the distribution of physicians away from ownership of private practices.

Employed physicians were 47.4% of all patient care physicians in 2018, up 6% points since 2012. In contrast, self-employed physicians were 45.9% of all patient care physicians in 2018, down 7% points since 2012. Changes of this magnitude are not unprecedented. Older AMA surveys show the share of self-employed physicians fell 14% points during a six-year span between 1988 and 1994.