General Surgeons
Description
Practitioners in this industry use surgical techniques to diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders. No major companies dominate the industry.
An estimated 310 million major surgeries are performed each year. Low-income countries have on average less than 2 operating theaters per 100,000 population, compared with the global average of 14.3 per 100,000 in North America and 25.1 theaters per 100,000 in eastern Europe, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Office of physicians, including general surgeons, has about 210,000 establishments and has an annual revenue of about $470 billion. In 2021, the specialties with the largest number of active physicians were primary care specialties of internal medicine (over 120,000), family medicine/general practice (over 118,000), and pediatrics (over 60,000), according to the 2022 Physician Specialty Data report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven primarily by population growth and rates of critical illness and injury. The profitability of individual practices depends mainly on expertise and reputation. Larger practices may enjoy economies of scale in administration and equipment purchasing. Smaller practices can compete successfully by specializing. The US industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate about 20% of industry revenue.
In local markets, surgeons primarily compete with one another. Medical tourism is a fast-growing competitive threat: because surgery costs are high, patients are increasingly traveling to foreign countries for procedures that cost a fraction of US prices. General surgeons who specialize in elective procedures such as dermatology or ophthalmology may experience decreased demand for services during economic downturns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, elective procedures were halted as governments enacted shelter-in-place regulations.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
A general surgeon can provide care for a broad spectrum of conditions affecting most areas of the body. Most services offered by general surgeons include patient care which account for about 97% of the industry revenue. Other services include the treatment of: the musculoskeletal system; factors influencing health status; eye diseases; and circulatory system diseases, which all account for less than 5%. General surgeons will provide early management and specialist referral for certain complex and urgent conditions.
Surgeons typically consult with patients in a small office or clinic that is staffed by a small cadre of nurses and/or administrative personnel. Due to the wide range of medical equipment, specialized staff, and sterile work environment required for operations, surgery is typically performed in hospitals, urgent care centers, and occupational medicine centers. Minor procedures may be performed in physician offices. Outpatient surgical centers, also known as ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), are used by doctors to perform a variety of surgical procedures that don't require patients to stay overnight in a hospital.
Many surgeons practice in groups or health care organizations. Historically, surgeons were not typically employees of medical facilities; however, today more than half of all general surgeons are employees of hospitals and other organizations rather than independent. ACOs are groups of doctors and health care facilities that coordinate patient care to improve quality and efficiency.
An estimated 310 million major surgeries are performed each year. Low-income countries have on average less than 2 operating theaters per 100,000 population, compared with the global average of 14.3 per 100,000 in North America and 25.1 theaters per 100,000 in eastern Europe, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Office of physicians, including general surgeons, has about 210,000 establishments and has an annual revenue of about $470 billion. In 2021, the specialties with the largest number of active physicians were primary care specialties of internal medicine (over 120,000), family medicine/general practice (over 118,000), and pediatrics (over 60,000), according to the 2022 Physician Specialty Data report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven primarily by population growth and rates of critical illness and injury. The profitability of individual practices depends mainly on expertise and reputation. Larger practices may enjoy economies of scale in administration and equipment purchasing. Smaller practices can compete successfully by specializing. The US industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest firms generate about 20% of industry revenue.
In local markets, surgeons primarily compete with one another. Medical tourism is a fast-growing competitive threat: because surgery costs are high, patients are increasingly traveling to foreign countries for procedures that cost a fraction of US prices. General surgeons who specialize in elective procedures such as dermatology or ophthalmology may experience decreased demand for services during economic downturns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, elective procedures were halted as governments enacted shelter-in-place regulations.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
A general surgeon can provide care for a broad spectrum of conditions affecting most areas of the body. Most services offered by general surgeons include patient care which account for about 97% of the industry revenue. Other services include the treatment of: the musculoskeletal system; factors influencing health status; eye diseases; and circulatory system diseases, which all account for less than 5%. General surgeons will provide early management and specialist referral for certain complex and urgent conditions.
Surgeons typically consult with patients in a small office or clinic that is staffed by a small cadre of nurses and/or administrative personnel. Due to the wide range of medical equipment, specialized staff, and sterile work environment required for operations, surgery is typically performed in hospitals, urgent care centers, and occupational medicine centers. Minor procedures may be performed in physician offices. Outpatient surgical centers, also known as ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), are used by doctors to perform a variety of surgical procedures that don't require patients to stay overnight in a hospital.
Many surgeons practice in groups or health care organizations. Historically, surgeons were not typically employees of medical facilities; however, today more than half of all general surgeons are employees of hospitals and other organizations rather than independent. ACOs are groups of doctors and health care facilities that coordinate patient care to improve quality and efficiency.
Table of Contents
- Industry Overview
- Quarterly Industry Update
- Business Challenges
- Business Trends
- Industry Opportunities
- Call Preparation Questions
- Financial Information
- Industry Forecast
- Web Links and Acronyms
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