Final answer:
The prototype of consolidation of specialists into group practice is the trend during the 1990s known as hospital 'merger mania,' where smaller healthcare entities were merged into larger systems to improve efficiency and meet the increasing healthcare demands of an aging population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prototype of the consolidation of specialists into group practice in healthcare is exemplified by the trend of hospital and provider consolidations during the 1990s. This phenomenon, often referred to as hospital "merger mania," saw local hospitals and small doctors' offices being merged or acquired by larger healthcare systems. This consolidation aimed to address the overwhelming increases in demand, particularly from America's aging and less healthy population, by creating efficiencies and standardizations through methods such as telemedicine, the introduction of new types of healthcare professionals, and the implementation of insurance mandates. In light of the social changes from the 1960s and the need for professionals to become change agents, the consolidation also promoted the development of a new discipline that aligned with societal social change and emphasized the role of professionals in aiding this transformation.