With the New Year quickly approaching hospital physicians, as well as most folks working on the patient care side of the healthcare industry, are preparing for some significant changes.

“Physician News Digest” recently highlighted some areas in which change can be anticipated:

1. The ever-changing nature of medical practices will continue. “Many physicians are choosing hospital and group settings versus private practice due to the perceived security employed settings offer. Only one quarter of physicians surveyed said they plan to continue practicing as they are; half said they would adopt a style of practice different from the traditional full-time independent private practice model,” as reported in “Physician News Digest.”

2. The shortage of primary care physicians will continue. It is not breaking news that there is a serious shortage of primary care physicians in the United States. “Physicians News Digest” reported that “the majority of physicians (60 percent) said health reform will compel them to close or significantly limit their practices to certain categories of patients. Of these, 93 percent said they will close or significantly limit their practices to Medicaid patients and 87 percent said they would close or significantly restrict their practices to Medicare patients. In 2012, physicians will need to evaluate how they can optimize their time to accommodate the current and future needs of their patients.”

3. The physician’s impact on patients will continue. Many hospitals are looking at options, in terms of hiring physicians who are able to juggle medical services as well as administrative tasks. Many healthcare facilities are finding it in their best interest to partner with companies that specialize in physician services, as “increased reporting, problematic reimbursement and high potential liability, will place extraordinary stress on physicians,” as reported in “Physician News Digest.”

“Proposed changes to our healthcare system have already significantly impacted physicians and patients,” said Lou Goodman, President of The Physicians Foundation. “We hope the physician watch list helps to address the core issues under the new legislation and offers doctors and the healthcare community guidance on how to deliver the best care possible to patients in 2012.”