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The state of primary care: Value-based care supports physician independence

20 November 2025
Blog
5 minute read

Aledade

This blog is presented by Aledade as part of their sponsorship of the 2025 eClinicalWorks® and healow® National Conference.

Doctor sitting at desk on a laptop with patient explaining something to them in a doctors office

The health care industry is at a turning point. Independent primary care organizations are facing a critical decision: stay independent or consolidate into a larger system. Complicated workflows, physician burnout and tight budgets present daily challenges for physicians, but patients still deserve high-quality, accessible care.

Numbers don’t lie — the root causes of primary care burnout

Clinicians are spending too much time on documentation, data management and gathering health information from multiple systems. Primary care organizations are also facing widespread staffing shortages. Clinicians are struggling to meet patient demand while maintaining quality care standards. All of these factors directly impact patients.

The data reveals a system in crisis: a health care system that’s failing our frontline clinicians, ultimately impacting patient care quality and access:

51% of family physicians reported experiencing burnout in 2022 — higher than physicians in many other specialties¹
$4.6 billion is lost annually due to physician turnover and reduced clinical hours caused by burnout²
70% of physicians surveyed by the Physician Foundation attributed their burnout to losing their independence through consolidation³
27% of a physician’s time is spent with patients — with the remainder consumed by administrative tasks and EHR documentation⁵

For doctors and care teams, relentless pressure to see a high volume of patients erodes the very reasons many entered medicine. Fast-paced visits strip away physician autonomy and the ability to provide thoughtful, personalized care.

Why independence matters in primary care

Independent primary care allows physicians to focus more on relationships with patients. These relationships and the preventive services that come from these conversations drive improved health outcomes and greater patient satisfaction.

When family doctors are forced to consolidate, they can lose control over care decisions. Patients who need more complex care are often rushed through to meet requirements based on volume of services rendered — not patient outcomes. For example, a longer visit where a doctor can explain the importance of good nutrition can lead to lower A1c scores and controlled blood pressure. Conversation and connection can make a big difference over time for the patient.

Dr. Charles Blay, a family doctor at Woodlands Medical Specialists in Pensacola, Fla., said staying independent is crucial.

“Our patients are healthier. Our outcomes are better,” he said. “We’re able to practice medicine the way we wanted to practice when we first went to med school.”

Value-based care: A potential solution and path forward

In value-based payment models, clinicians are rewarded based on the quality of care they deliver and the outcomes patients achieve. Fee-for-service models pay clinicians based on the volume of services they provide. Instead of rushing through appointments to meet productivity targets, clinicians practicing value-based care keep patients healthier through preventive services and long-term care. With more time to address small issues before they become serious, patients need fewer expensive hospital visits leading to lower overall health costs.

ACOs as a solution through enhanced care coordination

Transitioning to value-based care from fee-for-service models is a complex process. Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are made up of primary care organizations working together to address core challenges independent physicians face.

Using data to track patient health over time, optimizing workflows for busy offices and rewarding physicians for high quality care all directly impact patient health.

ACO support reaches across the entire care experience.

Staffing support reduces individual workloads
Improved EHR integration systems offer more inclusive patient population views
Resources and training help care teams take action on issues like medication adherence, care gaps and chronic disease management

Key benefits of value-based care for independent physicians

Value-based care directly addresses the challenges independent physicians face every day.

1. Financial stability and growth

One of the most compelling advantages of value-based care is the financial diversification it offers. Value-based contracts provide additional revenue streams for independent practices.

As primary care organizations show they’ve improved health care outcomes and lowered costs, they earn a portion of the money saved. These shared savings programs create additional opportunities to reinvest directly in patient care. Often used to upgrade technology, expand services or enhance staff training, these funds continue to improve care quality, leading to more opportunities to earn shared savings and retain independence.

2. Operational efficiency and support

Value-based care partnerships offer advanced technology and workflow optimization tools that many primary care organizations couldn’t afford or implement on their own. Comprehensive views of patient data from across the care continuum enable proactive care coordination and early intervention strategies, improving both patient outcomes and practice efficiency.

Clinical and administrative support teams help streamline documentation processes, optimize care protocols and manage quality reporting requirements. Additionally, dedicated policy and regulatory guidance ensures organizations stay compliant with evolving health care regulations without having to become experts in every regulatory nuance themselves.

3. Independence and resilience

Well-structured value-based care arrangements preserve and strengthen physician independence. ACO partnerships provide access to resources and support systems while allowing organizations to maintain their clinical autonomy and patient relationships. This stable foundation enables physicians to ensure they can meet evolving community health care needs effectively.

Real doctors, real results

Value-based care positions primary care organizations for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Dr. Andrew Pieleck, of Access HealthCare Multi-Specialty Group, said, “We are in an area that is growing exponentially, and we have to have the health care system to support it. Looking at how we’re changing the way we’re compensated for the work we do… it’s pretty important to be in an ACO to be successful and meet the growth demand we’re seeing. We want to stay ahead of that curve.”

Preparing for a sustainable future

The transition to value-based care requires strategic planning and the right partnerships. Independent organizations looking to maintain their autonomy while accessing the benefits of coordinated care should consider:

Evaluating current workflows: Identify areas where administrative burden impacts patient care time
Assessing technology integration: Review EHR efficiency and data sharing capabilities
Understanding value-based contracts: Learn about shared savings opportunities and quality metrics
Building strategic partnerships: Connect with ACOs that support independence while providing comprehensive resources

The opportunity ahead

The future of primary care lies in models that preserve independence and patient relationships. Value-based care, through well-structured ACO partnerships, offers independent practices the opportunity to reduce burnout, improve patient outcomes and build sustainable financial models. ACOs provide the resources, technology and financial stability primary care organizations need to thrive.

For primary care organizations, the question isn’t whether to evolve with changing health care payment models — it’s how to do so while maintaining the autonomy and patient-centered approach that defines excellent primary care.

Ready to get started?

Ready to explore how value-based care can benefit your practice or health center? Contact Aledade today to learn how our proven value-based care model can help you reduce burnout, improve patient outcomes and build financial stability.

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¹ American Academy of Family Physicians, “Family physician burnout,” AAFP Policies, https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/family-physician-burnout.html.

² Annals of Internal Medicine 169, no. 6 (2018), https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-1422.

³ MedPage Today, “Special Reports,” https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/112042.

⁴ PubMed Central, PMC7392132 (2020), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7392132/.

⁵ American Hospital Association, “Study: Physicians spend nearly twice as much time on EHR/desk work as patients,” September 8, 2016, https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2016-09-08-study-physicians-spend-nearly-twice-much-time-ehrdesk-work-patients.