It can be tough to decide what kind of career you want to pursue, especially if you’re going into healthcare. There are all kinds of career paths in the medical field – you have an abundance of fields and specialties to choose from! In addition, you have to decide whether you want to work in private practice (whether that’s opening your own or working at someone else’s) or if you want to work in a medical group. We’ve highlighted the differences between the two in hopes of helping you decide which path to take!

Private practices are more relaxed.
Because there are no hospital regulations to follow, physicians and other employees are able to set the tone for their workplace. A lot of patients prefer seeking care at private practices over medical groups or hospitals because there’s more of a family dynamic at a private practice. It’s also easier to get settled in at a private practice than at a hospital.

There is no chance for upward movement in private practice.
Private practices are significantly smaller than medical groups, so there are no opportunities for career advancement. This is especially true for the lead physician or co-owner of the private practice – you’re already at the top, so there is no change for you to move up. In a medical group, however, there will be chances for you to advance in your career.

It is difficult to be independent in a hospital or medical group.
When you have a career within a hospital or medical group, there aren’t many opportunities to be independent. There are a lot of constraints once you have signed a contract at a public facility, as you no longer get to choose where you practice or the materials and tools you have access to. In a hospital, there are also more people arguing over what decisions need to be made and how to make them.

Hospitals have significantly more people with different areas of expertise.
It is much easier to refer a patient to a different department when practicing in a hospital than it is in a private practice. If it is found that a patient needs a different type of care or further care that only a different department can give, a hospital is the place to be. As they say, the more the merrier.

Higher pay is almost guaranteed.
Hospitals and medical groups have a larger budget than private practices do. Hospitals are often more sought after than private practices, and they can meet more needs than a private practice can (as previously mentioned). In a private practice, some of the money coming in has to be allocated to administrative needs.

Whether you choose to work in a private practice or in a public setting will depend upon what your personality type is. However, the things we mentioned above should also be taken into consideration when you’re making your decision. You should also consider things like career goals, what kind of salary you need, and what kind of lifestyle you want to live while you’re practicing medicine.

Crystal Carter, Content Marketing Specialist

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