I am Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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Raise your hand if you ever sat through 12+ years of training only to discover nobody taught you how to think like a business owner.
Welcome to the club, Doc.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most brilliant physiatrists I coach are walking encyclopedias of neuroanatomy and gait analysis… but they make rookie business mistakes that cost them tens (sometimes hundreds) of thousands every year. Why? Because while they trust their medical reasoning, they skip developing their critical thinking superpower where it matters most — the business side of medicine.
And if you don’t sharpen that skill on your own terms, the payers, the hospital execs, and the “guru” consultants will do the thinking for you.
Think Like a CEO — Not Just a Clinician
Let’s clear something up: critical thinking isn’t about paranoia or pessimism. It’s about asking smarter questions, setting ego aside, and basing your business decisions on reality — not fear, guesswork, or convenience.
Thinking like a CEO means using logic, evidence, and strategy to protect your time, energy, and profit.
This skill shields you from:
- Overpaying for shiny but unnecessary tools
- Being talked into predatory vendor contracts
- Reacting emotionally to staffing issues or complaints
- Signing away your revenue in a bad joint venture deal
Ask Smarter Business Questions — Like a CEO Would
You wouldn’t accept an MRI report without clinical correlation. So why blindly trust a payer policy or a consultant’s pitch?
Start asking:
- What proof backs this up?
- Who benefits if I believe or buy this?
- Am I assuming something untrue? (e.g. “My patients won’t pay cash.” Have you tested it?)
Good questions reveal cracks in bad deals. That’s how you protect your margins — and your mission.
Recognize the Biases Holding You Back
Even the most evidence-based minds fall for emotional logic. You might be clinging to ideas that once served you — but are now killing your profits.
Examples:
- “I can’t negotiate with payers.”
- “Marketing is too expensive.”
- “If I take a vacation, the business will collapse.”
These beliefs feel safe. But thinking like a CEO requires you to challenge assumptions and seek truth, not comfort.
Talk to colleagues who’ve done what you’re afraid to try. Collect data. Get outside your mental bubble.
Demand Better Evidence, Not Buzzwords
Not all evidence is good evidence. That flashy testimonial? That “white paper”? Often nothing more than persuasive packaging.
If you wouldn’t accept vague data in clinical care, don’t accept it in business.
Ask:
- Who created this data?
- What’s their incentive?
- Does it apply to my size, region, and practice model?
Business success — like a CEO knows — depends on making informed, not impulsive, decisions.
Think in Probabilities, Not Promises
Nothing in business is guaranteed — just like nothing in rehab is 100%. It’s not about perfect outcomes; it’s about weighted risks and strategic action.
Ask yourself:
If I do this, what’s the realistic upside? What’s the downside? How can I buffer against the worst-case while aiming for the best?
Like a CEO, you plan, test, and adapt. That mindset beats perfection every time.
Practice Critical Thinking Like a Daily Habit
Apply it everywhere:
- Do I really need this hire?
- Is this referral source worth the marketing budget?
- Should I fight this claim denial or update my documentation protocols?
These small daily decisions build the habit muscle. And that’s what separates overwhelmed owners from empowered ones.
Bottom Line: Think Like a CEO or Be Managed Like an Employee
Physiatry is full of smart MDs making employee-level choices inside businesses they technically own. Critical thinking changes that.
Start thinking like a CEO and you’ll stop surviving and start scaling — with clarity, confidence, and control.
I’m Dr. Hassan — your no-nonsense physiatry business coach.
Ready to rewire your clinical brain for entrepreneurial leadership?
Book your free strategy session now — and learn how to think for profit, not panic.
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Once you’ve decided that you want to leave your current job to start your practice, you need an exit plan. Check out our blog post here for tips on developing an exit plan and starting your new independent practice.
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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract of your dreams.
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Attention, Physiatrists! Stop leaving money on the table. Sign up for the free video series: How To Build A Profitable Practice in 90 Days or Less: http://www.sixtytosuccess.com
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