Single specialty medical groups are growing in popularity as physicians--and investors--develop a clearer understanding of their business potential. Numerous market factors are driving physicians to form and join these groups, and the resulting influence of a large number of like-minded, same-specialty physicians is significant.

Predictably, the face of managed medical care contracting is changing as these groups begin to speak and negotiate as one. More importantly, the business of medicine is forever changing as the aggregated earning power of high income producers gets leveraged into product and service diversification that are leaving traditional individual medical practices feeling dazed, confused and relatively impotent. The pressure to join these groups as they form and grow is enormous. The business of healthcare has compelled insurance executives to search for the economies of scale, available from larger groups and thus exclude individual providers unable to compete in the areas of price, products, services, and geographic coverage.

Historically markets in a time of transition have offered great opportunities, and healthcare today is no exception. A close look at the major forces driving the market will reveal trends that are likely to become clear market cornerstones for the next generation of medical practice. This article reviews 10 major market forces working in single medical specialty groups., particularly in women's health, and suggests 10 business trends in which women's healthcare groups are likely to participate.