How do we get physicians to develop the business skills they need, so they don’t get taken so heavily advantage of by the system, and other doctors?
What we don’t do is just ignore the topic altogether, as is the current practice in medical school and residency. There is essentially no mention of business, or anything like it in training.
Informed doctors will better be able to keep their doors open, keep autonomy, and practice good medicine.
A doctor that is heavily taken advantage of is an unhappy one, usually because they are forced to work in a system that they don’t fundamentally agree with.
A doctor that is heavily taken advantage of is an unhappy one, usually because they are forced to work in a system that they don't fundamentally agree with. Click To Tweet
So what is the solution?
I believe the best solution is that in medical school AND residency, there should be dedicated rotations where the goal is to learn the business side of medicine. Actually learn it by rotating with a doctor who is currently doing it, large practice, small practice, direct practice.
Lectures are OK, but giving a medical student or resident an end of the day lecture on non-tested materials will probably be low yield.
A cautionary tale lecture may be more useful.
One month of medical education dedicated to this in medical school and residency will pay dividends.
