Successful Implementation of Medical Practice Sustainability Options Requires Historical Perspective, Situational Awareness, and Strategic Thinking

Executive Summary 

The purpose of this focus paper is to establish conceptual frameworks critical for developing and implementing methods of sustainability for medical practices, review historical periods of medical practices, discuss surrounding factors, and mention several pathways that may offer methods of sustainability for medical practices. The reader will find an extensive review of professional and academic literature for conceptual frameworks that help medical practice executives develop methods of sustainability for their medical practices. Discussion includes an overview of several pathways available to medical practices that may lead to effective routes to cope within competitive, changing environments. Advancing methods for practice sustainability must be foremost in the mind of practice executives as they combine systems-based strategic thinking with dynamic capabilities concepts and remain familiar with the principles of retail competition. Using appropriate, innovative responses and acquisition of new skill sets positions the practice to protect any competitive advantages that past actions may have created. Enhancing and stabilizing medical practices, benefits society by preserving and strengthening a source of patient-centered, effective, affordable health care delivery for the communities served. The primary emphasis remains, however, on preserving a source of patient-centered, effective, affordable health care delivery for the communities served by the medical practices.