There is one word that sums up why I chose to become a solopreneur, and that word is freedom. Freedom is what I value more than anything, and it is what I correlate most with success. A solopreneur is simply an entrepreneur who works solo. The day that I packed up my stethoscope and flipped my hair on the way out of the office door was the day that I came alive. It was finally time for me to wake up excited about each day. Although I am now working more hours than ever before, ironically, I am more energized and happier than ever. I love being my own boss and now have the opportunity to custom-build my dream career. I wanted a job that fit my personality, my ideology, and preference. I was medically trained to be autonomous, efficient, and prudent, and the healthcare status quo (from my vantage point) was inefficient, redundant, impractical, and poorly executed. I needed control over my life, and I was audacious enough to believe that I deserved it.
So, it began with problem solving. This required that I transform complaint-ridden questions into life changing solutions. Powerhouse motivator, Tony Robbins says, “If you ask better questions, you will get better answers.” I stopped asking questions like, “Why does administration engage in processes that create stress for providers and frustration for patients?” I started asking, “What do I want? What are my financial and professional values? How am I going to live my truth while sustaining a superior quality of life?” I made the executive decision to put dreams, hopes, and desires into action. I knew that it would require being honest about not only what I wanted, but also what patients needed. I knew that adding employees would be a stressor for me in terms of juggling payroll, job descriptions, and employee training, so I decided to leverage technology to replace some of the tasks in a traditional practice. I also knew that I wanted to personalize the patient experience, and this required avoiding the large corporate infrastructure with several moving parts. I sought to create a personalized, intimate, and low volume medical environment that was patient-centered and contemporary.
As a solopreneur, I would now be the CEO, CFO, office and marketing manager, front and back office staff, and everything in-between. This is understandably intimidating for a lot of providers; however, most providers are already wearing several of these hats without compensation. Every lunch-and-learn, referral promoting activity, call to IT for EMR issues, or patient complaint regarding staff that conveniently meanders into the provider’s lap is a subtraction from the role of clinician. I found very quickly that I enjoyed the “grunt work” when I chose to do it and not when I was “forced” to do it. To add, I quickly learned that technologically advanced platforms delivered office automation in areas of appointment scheduling, answering services, email communication, laboratory results, and practically eliminated the need for traditional office staff. The previous million dollar electronic medical record that crowd funded $500 a year from each provider (whether they realized it or not) was replaced by a free, high performing web-based medical record that I could customize.
Solopreneurs are thought of as lone-rangers, but this is not quite the case. I collaborate with a team of consultants, independent contractors, and a very extensive physician network of both independent and employed physicians. Solopreneurs can share office space with other medical providers for comradery, intellectual engagement, or to simply save money on commercial real estate. Patients have more flexibility for healthcare access because there are no formal ties to a specific hospital system, insurance plan, or employee program. As for patient payments, insurance was not worth the headache for me, and with high insurance deductibles, every medical practice is functioning like a “cash-based practice” anyway. As an alternative to out-of-pocket expenses, solopreneurs may accept payments through health savings accounts or care credits, and patients may seek reimbursement from insurance companies via provider-generated superbills or comparable methods.
A solo practice is not for everyone. The beauty of medicine is that it is filled with rich diversity. From primary care to subspecialty, to physician to pharmacist or physician assistant, we have so much to offer all of our patients. As the landscape of medicine continues to evolve, it is important that we all learn where we serve best. Whether you are a medical professional or not, I challenge you to ask the hard questions. Are you happy? Are you fulfilled? Are you living your purpose? For some of us, the perfect fit in medicine already exists; for others, we must create it.
