One of the objections to the establishment of ambulatory care centers that consolidate neighborhood practices is the potential loss of patients who are inconvenienced by extra travel time. This concern may be overemphasized. The midwest is characterized by larger group practices and ambulatory care centers that are able to draw patients from significant distances. Many factors such as hours of operation, the level of customer service and the quality of the physicians enter into the equation. One factor that seems to influence the acceptance of ambulatory care center is the age of the patient.
Older patients seem to prefer physicians in traditional private practice settings.
But families where both spouses work have shown a real attraction to family or ambulatory care centers. This is particularly true when the center has expanded hours, expanded services and is located close to major roadways. Patients in today's families need to be seen on short notice, early or late in the day. It is possible to develop and operate an ambulatory center that meets the needs of a broad age range of patients. The most advanced centers combine traditional private physician office suites with expanded services and facilities, producing the best of both worlds.