Why are large health systems hiring more Internists and Pediatricians than Family Docs? It’s not about skill—it’s about structure. Many organizations are built around hospitalist pipelines, adult care panels, and pediatric service lines that slot neatly into existing revenue streams. Family Medicine’s “cradle-to-grave” model? It doesn’t fit as easily into spreadsheets.
Internists often bring Medicare-heavy panels, Pediatricians anchor pediatric service lines, and both align with existing coding and referral patterns. Meanwhile, Family Medicine’s broad scope—covering OB, geriatrics, and behavioral health—can look inefficient on paper, even though it’s the most patient-centered model in reality.
Some systems are starting to realize that missing link: outcomes, satisfaction, and continuity metrics often shine where Family Medicine leads. The challenge ahead isn’t proving worth—it’s redesigning systems to measure what actually matters.
Have you seen Family Medicine squeezed—or rediscovered—in your organization?
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LinkedIn Post: Family Medicine shifts – it’s about structure not skill.
Why are large health systems hiring more Internists and Pediatricians than Family Docs?
It’s not a skill gap—it’s a system design issue. Most organizations are structured around hospitalist pipelines and revenue models that fit adult or pediatric care neatly into service lines. Family Medicine’s full-spectrum model? It doesn’t fit easily into the billing spreadsheet.
Yet when you look closer, systems led by Family Docs often have better continuity, satisfaction, and long-term outcomes. The problem isn’t the model—it’s the metrics.
As payment models evolve toward value-based care, Family Medicine’s “whole-family” approach might just become the blueprint for what’s next.
Have you seen this shift play out where you work?