What Every Doctor Should Know...But Was Never Taught in Medical School

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About the Book

You're a doctor and you know a lot about medicine. But do you know a lot about the real world? Doctors learn a lot in medical school, but not enough. Only rarely will a course teach practical, useful, or pragmatic information to help with the myriad decisions that arise in day-to-day life. Dr. Harbin wrote this book to fill the gap: to help doctors deal with the business aspects of medicine, help doctors in training learn how to evaluate opportunities for the future, and assist practicing doctors in dealing with the questions arising day-to-day and when planning for the future.

Reviews

"Excellent advice for all stages of a career in medicine. I truly wish this had been available to me when I finished training."
DAVID A. DURFEE, M.D., RENOWNED PRACTICE MANAGEMENT EXPERT

"Dr. Harbin provides a practical assessment of the business issues facing physicians at every stage in their career. This is a 'must read' filled with thousands of pearls."
BRUCE MALLER, PRESIDENT, BSM CONSULTING

"In this evolving healthcare environment, it's not enough to be a healer. Physicians must know the business aspects of medicine as well."
GIL WEBER, OWNER/PRINCIPAL, GIL WEBER, MBA
CONSULTANT GO PHYSICIANS AND INDUSTRY

"Dr Harbin's book is a must read for this day in age when medicine so closely intercepts with the business world. In our dynamic environment of health care reform, Dr. Harbin has carefully crafted a unique perspective for the ophthalmologist to raise awareness about business skills and how to succeed in our profession."

ROB MELENDEZ, MD, MBA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PEARLS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY AND AAO YO INFO

About the Author
Thomas S. Harbin, born in Annapolis, Maryland, graduated Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt University, earned his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, and his M.B.A. from Georgia State University. After a residency at The Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Harbin served his fellowship at the Glaucoma Center, Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Dr. Harbin served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1971 to 1977. He was clinical professor of ophthalmology at Emory University from 1985 to 1997, and chief of staff, ophthalmology, at Piedmont Hospital from 1984 to 1994. Harbin also served on the board of directors Piedmont Medical Center, Piedmont Hospital, from 1990 to 2006, as president of Eye Consultants of Atlanta, P.C., from 1996 to 2003, and he is currently a member of the Georgia Society to Prevent Blindness, where he was also medical advisory board chairman from 1987 to 1989. Harbin is the author of Waking Up Blind: Lawsuits Over Eye Surgery (Langdon Street Press, 2009) and The Student Doctor Network What Every Doctor Should Know…But Was Never Taught in Medical School (FEP International, 2010).

Read the SDN 20 Questions Interview with Dr. Harbin

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The raffle winner will be selected from those members who ask questions or otherwise contribute meaningfully to the discussion in this thread.

In reference to the "business of medicine" aspect, can someone please clarify. For example does it go into details about setting up a practice, finding a right practice to join, investments etc?

How is the book laid out? Q&A? Narritive? Etc?

Does this book deal with medical topics or is it more of a life outside of the practice of medicine book?

I was wondering if the information in this book addresses any state specific issues that could potentially influence how and why a person would practice in one location vs another?

When dealing with the "business of medicine", would this book still be helpful to someone who chose a hospitalist or critical care specialty, or is it more for private practice?

What business aspects are dealt with? Is it more the start up aspects of starting a practice, or does it discuss the day-to-day aspects of running a business such as things like billing medicare and other insurance companies?

Sounds like a good read. I wish more medical schools would make topics like this mandatory reads.

Dr. Harbin will be answering the questions in this thread over the course of Test Prep Week. Please keep the questions coming!

In the meantime, I have uploaded a copy of the table of contents for the book in PDF format so you can see in greater detail what the book covers.

I've heard about this book before. I've been thinking about my future after residency. I found that I preferred the in-hospital setting rather than out-patient setting and I was pretty opposed to starting my own practice because it looks like a lot of headache. I wondered though, how much different it would be if I joined a practice instead of created my own. Should I have an MBA in healthcare management? Would I still be able to tailor my needs to in-patient, would I have any say in the business? As a junior attending in a practice, what could I expect and how much better/different would it be if I simply chose to stay on staff at a hospital? What would the pay differences be? Hours in flexibility? On my interview trail I only encountered a few programs that offer training in practice management, and even then it was very limited. Will this book be able to answer most of these questions?

Is this book cover primarily academic topics that should be known but aren't covered enough in med school or more the doctor-patient aspects that aren't taught as well? I love reading tales from the trenches- this looks like a great resource

Yes,
The book covers all these areas plus more. The table of contents is posted and you can see that it covers the strategies and high-level thinking needed to transition from training into any type practice, private, academic or corporate. How to get busy in all these different positions and succeed, how to deal with organizational problems, personnel problems, how to communicate and lead. The tactics and state by state issues are not covered.
Tom Harbin, author

Would reading this book while in medical school (pre-clinical years) still be useful, or is it better read when finishing up residency?

I would recommend reading it now as you may have some different things to think about as you choose your future specialty. Then hold on to it for more specific advice as you finish your training. Good luck.
Tom Harbin

is this book business oriented?

This book teaches the practical business principles, the knowledge of which is essential for success in any practice setting. See the posted table of contents for full details, but it covers organizational behavior, culture in organizations, strategic planning for your life and practice, how to effectively communicate, marketing, investing and more. It applies those principles to the practice of medicine. Most young doctors out in the real world flounder until they learn these things the hard way. This book reduces the floundering factor and teaches you how to think about these issues and deal with them.
Tom Harbini

Is there a way to view the table of contents? Thank you

See post # 10 above.
Tom Harbin

Is there a specific point in one's carrier that this book will be highly useful or can it be read at any point during one's training. thanks!

The book is most useful for those ending training and looking for a position as well as doctors out in practice who are floundering as we all do. Reading it earlier in training will give you thoughts and strategies for later in your career as well as good habits to begin regarding patient care and communication.
Tom Harbin

One often hears about "street sense." Does the book give more anecdotal evidence for developing this "sense" or practical exercises for achieving the desired business rapport? Or maybe it is just informational (as the TOC suggests)?

Sounds interesting. For some reason my computer won't let me view the table of contents, but does this cover some of the implications (business wise) of the latest healthcare law changes?

anyone know if he talks about military med in this book?

Originally Posted by absolutdokta

anyone know if he talks about military med in this book?

Doesn't look like it based on the Table of Contents.

Does this book follow the same lines of "House of God"?

Wow. This seems like a great read for new doctors. I hope it covers the pros and cons of doctors incorporating themselves as an S corp and/or other alternatives.

The book has no practical exercises about street sense, but it does cover getting along with other types of doctors and what to expect from advisors in the community so you will gain a certain amount of street sense from those chapters.
There is no discussion of the new healthcare law, specifics about the military. I have not read the House of God so I have no idea whether I follow that or not. No mention of specific tactics of S corps either.
Tom Harbin

This book seems great! And I cannot wait to take a good look at it!

I wonder if it will cover the steps one would take if interested in later transitioning to a Hospital Administrator, CFO, or CEO...?

The book does not go into transitioning into careers outside of medicine, but the business principles apply no what the job or profession,
Tom Harbin

This book seems like a very smart read. Does it come in eBook form?
Thank you.

It will be on Kindle in a month or so.
Tom Harbin