2. For several years, the Steig Medical Group had been a successful primary care practice of three physicians. In recent years, the state in which it practiced became more receptive to opening the regulations to advanced practice nurses for providing primary care services to the limit of the license without direct supervision and to even have pharmacists perform limited diagnosis, order lab tests of certain types, and provide consults under some relationship with a physician.

These pharmacists could also refer. The local Walgreens and the three CVS locations in town had also opened Minute Clinics staffed with nurse practitioners. The Steig group just recently offered weekend hours on Saturday and had walk-in hours from 7:30 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The practice closed Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m. and Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Over lunch, the three doctors, all close friends who went through medical training together, decided to meet on a Sunday morning. One of them had recently completed a master’s of business administration at the local business school. “I think we should do a SWOT analysis of the practice,” he said, I think we now have real competition from when we started 10 years ago. The nurse practitioner practice is now open three nights a week and is opening Saturday and Sunday morning. The Minute Clinics are also there.

Let’s step back. Our practice is busy. We were voted best primary care group last year in Midtown magazine, but how long will that help? We have all been here in the community, we have talked about hiring, but is it enough? What else should we be doing?

Conduct a SWOT analysis for the Steig group.”