U.S. physicians continue to sell their private practices and seek employment with health care systems, according to a new Accenture survey. By 2013, less than one-third of physicians are expected to remain truly independent.

Accenture reports the rate of independent physicians employed by health systems will grow by an annual 5 percent over three years. “Health reform is challenging the entire system to deliver improved care through insight driven health,” says Kristin Ficery, senior executive at Accenture Health.

“We see an increasing number of physicians leaving private practice to join hospital systems, which will force all stakeholders to revise and refine their business models, product offerings and service strategies.” This change will require hospitals to determine how to retain and recruit the correct mix of physicians, especially in high-growth service lines, including cardiovascular care, orthopedics, cancer care and radiology, Accenture reports.