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Erasing Self Doubt
Do I have what it takes to start a DPC practice?
Entrepreneurs have a vision and are willing to take risks and prepared to work hard. They prefer autonomy over stability. Direct primary care physicians have a persistent passion for patient care. Do you have both? Are you ‘wired’ to be employed? Are you ‘wired’ for autonomy? If a DPC-oriented business offered you a job tomorrow, would that make more sense to you?
Do I still love medicine?
Stop now and answer this question:
Is it time for you to quit medicine altogether or do you still love the work of being a physician but can no longer tolerate your job?
DPC is not the easy path - you will still work hard. It is different in that you are working for yourself and your patient and building something for your future. This inherently restores the autonomy and joy of being a physician, and leads to immense self-growth, and developing new non-clinical skills.
I went to medical school, not business school - how do I start my own business?
Most business owners have not gone to business school either - many may not have gone to college. Running a small business is hard work but not very complicated. If you can become a physician, you can run a business. Check out small business resources from U.S. Small Business Administration.
What do I want my DPC practice to look like?
When deciding what kind of practice to start it is helpful to consider:
- What do you want to build? A small solo practice with just you and your patients? A multi-provider practice? A business you can eventually sell or step away from?
- What resources do you have? Do you need to/want to share them with another doctor?
- How important is autonomy to you?
- What is my ideal patient?
- What niche do I enjoy the most?
- Does it make sense to continue to support an insurance-based practice while trying to grow/build a DPC? (See Risk and Benefits of Hybrid DPC Practice for additional information)
- Do you want to fully separate from insurance billing? Can you do so? (See Terminating Insurance Contracts for additional information)
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Erasing Self Doubt
Do I have what it takes to start a DPC practice?
Entrepreneurs have a vision and are willing to take risks and prepared to work hard. They prefer autonomy over stability. Direct primary care physicians have a persistent passion for patient care. Do you have both? Are you ‘wired’ to be employed? Are you ‘wired’ for autonomy? If a DPC-oriented business offered you a job tomorrow, would that make more sense to you?
Do I still love medicine?
Stop now and answer this question:
Is it time for you to quit medicine altogether or do you still love the work of being a physician but can no longer tolerate your job?
DPC is not the easy path - you will still work hard. It is different in that you are working for yourself and your patient and building something for your future. This inherently restores the autonomy and joy of being a physician, and leads to immense self-growth, and developing new non-clinical skills.
I went to medical school, not business school - how do I start my own business?
Most business owners have not gone to business school either - many may not have gone to college. Running a small business is hard work but not very complicated. If you can become a physician, you can run a business. Check out small business resources from U.S. Small Business Administration.
What do I want my DPC practice to look like?
When deciding what kind of practice to start it is helpful to consider:
- What do you want to build? A small solo practice with just you and your patients? A multi-provider practice? A business you can eventually sell or step away from?
- What resources do you have? Do you need to/want to share them with another doctor?
- How important is autonomy to you?
- What is my ideal patient?
- What niche do I enjoy the most?
- Does it make sense to continue to support an insurance-based practice while trying to grow/build a DPC? (See Risk and Benefits of Hybrid DPC Practice for additional information)
- Do you want to fully separate from insurance billing? Can you do so? (See Terminating Insurance Contracts for additional information)