Abstract
Background/Objectives: As part of China's efforts to build a high-quality and efficient integrated healthcare delivery system, tightly knit urban medical groups (TKUMGs) have emerged as a key model for promoting inter-institutional collaboration. While existing studies have focused on organizational outcomes, limited empirical evidence is available regarding the personal benefits experienced by healthcare professionals within TKUMGs. Methods: This study evaluated 2200 healthcare professionals' perceived benefits from TKUMG participation in six pilot medical groups across two Chinese cities to identify factors associated with variations in career development outcomes. Results: Three distinct latent classes were identified: (1) A Limited Growth Group (32.4%), with minimal improvement across all dimensions; (2) a Skill Recognition Group (35.6%), with improvements in recognition and expertise utilization but limited gains in compensation and promotion; and (3) a Comprehensive Growth Group (32.0%), with comprehensive improvements in all six areas. Higher levels of participation and more positive attitudes toward TKUMG construction were significantly associated with inclusion in the more advanced development groups. Other significant factors included age, educational attainment, institutional role (leading vs. member), and departmental affiliation. TKUMG construction has generated heterogeneous benefits for healthcare professionals. Active engagement and institutional environments play critical roles in shaping individual development trajectories. Conclusions: Despite limitations related to this study's cross-sectional design and self-reported data, these findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to design incentive mechanisms, optimize human resource allocation, and enhance the sustainability of integrated healthcare models in urban China.