The E-Myth Physician: Why Most Medical Practices Don't Work and What to Do About It (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Despite what most Doctors think, every business is a family business..." (more)
Key Phrases: entrepreneurial seizure, turnkey system, Tactical Work, Strategic Work, Ray Kroc (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gerber has had great success with his previous E-Myth books, and this is the sixth in the series. The E-Myth posits that, because most professional business owners are successful in their field, they assume they are going to be successful entrepreneurs as well, and this assumption often leads to failure. In doctors' harried world, time is at such a premium that the ability to work on their practice (Systems Thinking) is usually superseded by the need to continue working in their practice (Tactical Thinking). As a result, the practice suffers, with patients frustrated by waiting, a tense and impatient staff, and poor cash flow. The E-Myth teachings show the doctor how to regain control over her practice, not by trying to manage people better (which is impossible) but by creating a repeatable system that anyone can follow to success. By focusing and creating a sound business plan, the physician creates a supportive environment for himself, his staff, and his patients, which allows him to get back to what he does best--healing. David Siegfried
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Product Description

Michael E. Gerber is a truly revolutionary business thinker. His unique E-Myth insights have helped transform hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world.

According to Gerber, The E-Myth is the myth of the entrepreneur. Most businesses fail to fulfill their potential because business owners are not entrepreneurs (as most people think them to be) but "technicians suffering from an entrepreneurial seizure." After all, says Gerber, most Physicians are the quintessential technicians -- they build practices by doing the work of the business...by seeing patients! As a result, most Physicians don't own a true business, but a job -- the all-consuming daily routine Gerber refers to as "doing it, doing it, doing it." Sound familiar?

With The E-Myth Physician, Michael Gerber focuses on the business of being a Physician, rather than the work of it. He reveals a radical mind-set that will free Physicians from the tyranny of the unprofitable, unproductive, perpetual routine -- juggling patients,hiring, firing, doing everything that needs to get done. Drawing on thirty years of experience working with small business owners, including many Physicians, Gerber provides revolutionary, practical, and enlightening insights on how to produce the best real-world results in the practice, in a Physician's life.

The E-Myth Physician explores critical topics such as money, people, management, patients, and growth. It teaches you how to:

• Implement the ingenious turn-key operation, a means of creating a Franchise Prototype that embodies your unique set of talents and that produces consistent, predictable results each and every time without your having to do everything yourself
• Recognize, understand, and manage the four factors of money -- income, profit, flow, and equity
• Nurture the power of change to transform your practice while enabling it to grow exponentially --without your having to be there all the time

  Anecdotal and always profound, The E-Myth Physician also provides insights on a broader level. It leads Physicians to become business visionaries by relinquishing tactical work and embracing strategic work -- working on their practices instead of just in them. Gerber's revolutionary ideas empower Physicians to build successful practices and successful lives.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0066214696
• ISBN-13: 978-0066214696
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #609,435 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a great book, October 7, 2003

By	Blurb "Joker" - See all my reviews

I agree with Dan who posted a review 2 posts before me. I am a physician and have read a few of Gerbers books. His Emyth revisited is a good book. However, his other books such as this one which is supposed to be geared towards specific profession. He only gives you some very basic concepts that offer really no solutions to these problems. I think most of us who understand our problems wish to have some questions answered and get help solving them not just simply reiterate what we already know. He does an absolute poor job on the money section of the book even though he implies that it is one of the most important aspects of the business. It is a terrible book on application to problem solving. Emyth even though does not necessarily cover application all the way either but it gives more useful hints than this one.

Organization: C-
Application: F
Usefulness: F
Re-read: F
Overall: D-

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Looking at the big picture, November 5, 2003

By	Galen Danielson (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews

My partners and I read the E-Myth Physician after reading the E-Myth Revisited. The concepts and systemization of our company have significantly changed our practices in the last year. After looking at some of the other reviews I noticed a common theme, people either love the book or hate it. Those who were not pleased with the book all have another common theme in that they did not feel it offered any "practical" solutions to their problems. That point of view absolutely supports Gerber's idea of the "technition" working in the business and not working on the business. I would not recommend this book for people looking for quick solutions to daily problems in their practice, but if you want to change your practice and the way you look at your business it is an excellent addition to the E-Myth series.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Ideas, no Guide to Practical Application, September 2, 2003

By	Dan N (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Gerber has very interesting ideas about systematic management of a medical practice. He uses the franchise example of McDonald's to help the physician to think of his or own practice as a system, that is easy to repeat. Repetitive systems are a definite way to provide better patient care and make more money. Mr. Gerber also speaks about how the physician must constantly look to change to improve these systems. This also makes sense with the constant changing horizon of health care.

The problem, is that Mr. Gerber gives very little insight on how to put these concepts into practice. For example, he believes all physicians should have systems to see patients on time. Yet, he has no solutions on how to deal with the problems that put physicians behind in the schedule. He brings up the "By the way doc,...," patient with multiple unannounced problems, but no solutions on how to deal with him. Another concept he suggests, is when a customer is angry, doing whatever the customer wants to satisfy them. This is a good concept with most patients, but there are several where this would not work, drug-seekers, etc.

This is a great book to help you conceptualize what you want your practice to be. It will help you to break it down into individual concepts and systems to address and fine tune to make your practice profitable and enjoyable. It will not give you much practical advice on how to solve these problems. You will have to look elsewhere for this.