So you’re one of the two percent of Internal Medicine residents who has pursued a primary care career.

Congratulations.

Just so you know what to expect, here are some truisms that you’ll have to accept to survive. Here’s the take home point: you’re going to be competing with those who have significantly more business training:

In my neck of the woods, massage therapists, as part of their curriculum, learn marketing and accounting. They are better equipped to set up a practice then a physician who has spent 4 years in medical school then 3 more in residency!

Brush up on your MBA skills if you expect to last.

Update:
Part 2 has also been posted. It brings up how mental health needs to be an essential part of training. Access to psychiatrists is even worse than primary care (if that’s possible), and many cases of depression and anxiety have to be managed by generalist physicians. It’s essential to be familiar with the use of psychiatric medications.

topics: primary care, business