Banner
  • Utilizing Medical Malpractice Data to Mitigate Risks and Reduce Claims
  • Industry News
  • Access and Reimbursement
  • Law & Malpractice
  • Coding & Documentation
  • Practice Management
  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Patient Engagement & Communications
  • Billing & Collections
  • Staffing & Salary

On Panel Size

Article

I am starting up my own family practice. What panel size should I expect to have in a mature practice? The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reports that family practice physicians not doing obstetrics see a median of 4,594 ambulatory patients per year. Does that sound right to you?

Question: I am starting up my own family practice. What panel size should I expect to have in a mature practice? The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reports that family practice physicians not doing obstetrics see a median of 4,594 ambulatory patients per year. Does that sound right to you?

Answer: To clarify, the MGMA reports 4,594 ambulatory encounters a year, not patients.

Even if you have a relatively small patient panel, if those patients are sick or you see them a lot, you can still generate many visits and many payments. What pays is seeing patients, not having them pick you as their primary care physician on their insurance forms.

That's why a panel of 2,000 elderly patients represents a much different workload than 2,000 patients in their 20s and 30s.

In short, panel size matters less than encounters and charges.

That said, a normal panel size in family practice is about 2,500. A patient on your panel is generally one you have seen in the past two years.

Recent Videos
Stephen A. Dickens
Ashkan Nikou
Jennifer Wiggins
Stephen A. Dickens
Ashkan Nikou
Jennifer Wiggins
What are you looking forward to at the 2024 Tri-State Healthcare Leaders Conference?
Stephen A. Dickens
Ashkan Nikou
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.