By Leo Vartorella

The number of hospital-owned physician practices increased from 35,700 in July 2012 to 80,000 in January 2018, according to a study from consulting firm Avalere Health and the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

The 128.7 percent increase in the number of hospital-owned practices is accompanied by a 70.8 percent increase in the number of hospital-employed physicians. There were 94,700 hospital-employed physicians in July 2012 and 168,800 hospital-employed physicians in January 2018.

"The continued trend of hospital-driven consolidation is dramatically reshaping the healthcare system," said Robert Seligson, president of the Physicians Advocacy Institute and CEO of the North Carolina Medical Society.