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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The Hidden Danger No One Talks About in Physiatry

Have you ever felt like you’re drowning in the business side of your practice? One moment, you’re excited about patient care, and the next, you’re buried under admin tasks, insurance headaches, and a sinking feeling that you’re just not built for this.

You didn’t go to medical school to become a business strategist, right? But here’s the hard truth—ignoring the business side of medicine is like standing on the edge of a cliff, taking a selfie, completely unaware of the 300-foot drop below.

The document “Stay Grounded in Your Daily Life” highlights the dangers of losing focus, of getting lost in illusions instead of dealing with reality. It tells real-life stories of people so caught up in their social media personas that they ignored the risks right in front of them—sometimes with deadly consequences.

And that’s exactly what happens when physiatrists enter private practice without staying grounded in the fundamentals of business.

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The Fatal Mistake That Keeps Physiatrists Broke

Imagine this: You’re standing in your brand-new office. The fresh paint smell still lingers. You’ve got state-of-the-art equipment, and your website just went live. This is it. You’ve made it.

But then… reality hits.

Patients aren’t magically walking through the door.
The overhead costs are piling up.
You’re spending hours on insurance claims instead of patient care.

You might even catch yourself thinking, Did I just trade my hospital job for a 24/7 business nightmare?

This is what happens when you chase the dream of independent practice without staying grounded in the reality of what it takes to succeed.

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Grounding Techniques That Apply to Business

“Stay Grounded in Your Daily Life” offers strategies to remain present, aware, and in control. Here’s how those same principles apply to building a profitable physiatry practice:

  1. Fully Immerse Yourself in the Experience

In business, this means treating your practice like a real company—not just an extension of your clinical work.

  • Learn the financial basics (or hire someone who does).
  • Understand patient acquisition strategies.
  • Stay actively involved in billing, marketing, and operations.

  1. Ask Yourself: What Do I Know For Sure?

Many new practice owners operate on assumptions:

  • “If I build it, they will come.”
  • “Doctors get referrals automatically.”
  • “I’ll figure out marketing later.”

Instead, stay grounded in facts:

  • How many patients do you need per month to break even?
  • What are your actual referral sources?
  • Where is your revenue really coming from?

  1. Name What’s In Your Environment

If anxiety about your practice is creeping in, focus on the tangible:

  • Review your monthly revenue and expenses.
  • Look at your patient pipeline.
  • Identify what’s working—and what’s not.

This prevents catastrophic thinking and helps you take action.

  1. Take a Cold Shower (A.K.A. Get Uncomfortable!)

The business side of medicine isn’t always fun, but staying in denial is worse. Rip off the bandage:

  • Raise your rates if you’re undercharging.
  • Drop insurance plans that are strangling your profits.
  • Invest in marketing instead of just hoping for referrals.

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The Bottom Line

Success in physiatry isn’t just about great patient care—it’s about staying grounded in reality. If you don’t know your numbers, if you don’t understand how your practice makes (or loses) money, if you don’t have a clear growth strategy—you’re just another doctor teetering on the edge, hoping not to fall.

Here’s your moment of truth: Are you building your business with your feet firmly on the ground, or are you one bad decision away from losing it all? If you’re ready to stop guessing and start owning your practice success, drop a comment below or reach out. Let’s make sure you’re not just surviving—but thriving.

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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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