Author: Matthew Vaughn, CCMA

Are you trying to decide which healthcare environment is right for you? Or maybe you're feeling dissatisfied in your current job and wondering if a change could make a difference? Well, I'm here to give you a look into both worlds. As an MA with over seven years of experience in both corporate and private practices, I can tell you that there's a world of difference between the two, and choosing the best fit can be challenging.

That said, much of what I’m about to discuss is situational, which means it can vary based on where you live, the clinic’s location, the specialty, and other factors. But these are some key differences I’ve noticed over my years in the field.

Job Responsibilities
First and foremost, the responsibilities you’ll take on can vary significantly between private practice and corporate settings. In the corporate world, roles are often specialized, with departments dedicated to specific tasks. For instance, if a provider places a referral, it’s typically sent to a central referrals department where a coordinator manages it. There are people dedicated to patient registration, scheduling, medical records, housekeeping, and more, which frees you up to focus on your specific tasks. If something comes your way that belongs to someone else, you can often hand it off without issue.

In private practice, especially in small offices, there are usually fewer employees, which means you may wear many hats. For example, I once worked in a practice with only four employees: the provider, the office manager, and two MAs. There, I was responsible not only for clinical duties but also for answering phones, scheduling, cleaning, scanning, and shredding—things I hadn’t expected but needed to be done. Since you’re all the practice has, you often have to step up to make sure everything is completed. This sometimes means coming in early or staying late to catch up on inventory, cleaning, or other duties. While corporate healthcare often offers more support, private practice teaches you to be resourceful and adaptable.

Days Off
The availability of days off is another significant difference. Working in tribal and corporate settings, I found we had more days off, especially around major holidays. However, in private practice, you may not always have that luxury. Corporate healthcare systems can usually afford to close for holidays without a major financial impact, but private practices might be more cautious about closing frequently due to the potential impact on revenue and patient care.

Paid time off (PTO) can also be trickier to manage in private practice. In corporate healthcare, there's often enough staff or float support to cover your absence. But in a smaller private practice, taking a day off may require strategic coordination, as you might be one of the only MAs capable of handling certain tasks. Your absence can affect the day’s flow, so planning time off requires more consideration in private settings.

Pay
When it comes to pay, corporate healthcare often has the upper hand, though this depends on your certification, specialty, experience, and location. Large health systems can sometimes offer better pay or benefits packages than smaller practices. In my experience, tribal healthcare had great insurance but low pay, corporate healthcare provided better pay but less comprehensive insurance, and my private practice job offered slightly higher pay but no health insurance (although the clinic provider would see me for free). Ultimately, you have to weigh what’s most important to you financially and in terms of benefits.

Rules and Regulations
Here’s where private practice truly stands out. In private practice, you often build a more personal connection with patients, and the environment tends to be more relaxed. Patients know you by name, and the relationships feel less formal. Our office was casual and friendly, which patients appreciated.

In corporate healthcare, however, there’s a strong emphasis on meeting specific metrics, patient satisfaction scores, and goals. For example, my former corporate job launched a system-wide initiative called "Recheck More in 2024!" to encourage blood pressure rechecks during patient visits. We even took customer service classes to help us connect better with patients, but many of us found these initiatives less effective and felt they didn't necessarily add value to patient care.

Corporate environments often have numerous annual competencies to complete, like fire safety and emergency procedures. While these are important, the frequent mandatory reminders can feel excessive. Some requirements, like taking a class on answering phones, seem overly rigid when the same goals could likely be met through initial training. We even had a customer service class one time which emphasized the importance of not rushing your patient, but anyone who has ever been an MA or roomed patients can tell you that sometimes you have to politely and kindly find a spot to cut them off and leave the room, otherwise you'll find yourself on the receiving end of an unhappy provider with a late schedule. Private practice, on the other hand, avoids much of this "corporate red tape," allowing you to focus more directly on your work and patient care.

In Conclusion
Choosing between corporate healthcare and private practice comes down to what you value most in your work life. If you prefer a structured, team-supported role with a clear division of tasks, corporate healthcare might be the right fit. But if you’re someone who thrives on versatility, close patient relationships, and the chance to work in a more flexible, casual environment, private practice may be more fulfilling.

Reflecting on what matters most to you, from work-life balance to pay and responsibilities, can help guide your decision. Whichever path you choose, remember that both corporate and private practices have unique strengths, and it’s ultimately about finding the place where you feel you can make the best impact.