Overview

The preceding chapter outlined the various practice options available. For residents seriously considering entering private practice, the issues of properly marketing and efficiently operating an office are critical to the success of the undertaking. This is the result of the fact that the health care system is now widely regarded as an industry and medical practice is considered a competitive business. With this perspective in mind, physicians have to look upon their occupation as being professional entrepeneurs. A primer on the two aspects, marketing and operating a practice, will be presented in this chapter.

Keys to professional success

When one is involved in a residency there is a tendency to lose track of time, which passes all too quickly. Before you realize it, you will find yourself on the verge of thinking about your future professional life. As you approach your ultimate goal, you will be faced with many new challenges and decisions. To help lower your anxiety level and make you feel more confident, a summary of the main issues associated with getting a practice under way are outlined in this section.

When considering your future professional activities, remember that

• Your residency is the best learning opportunity for preparing to go into practice.

• It is advantageous initially in your career to work for someone else, in that you will have a regular salary, you will not have to be concerned about running an office, and you can learn on the job about operating an office if you later decide to do so.

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