Tell me if this is your story as a doctor. So, you just finished med school, started your practice, was very enthusiastic and felt like your path is set.
But then came…
Being on top of your student loan, administrative struggles, late-night calls, overwork, and then before you know it — you are burned out.
The idea of sunshine and rainbows quickly went to feeling chained with golden handcuffs. Don’t get me wrong, being a doctor is still a great and noble profession, but you want to have more time for yourself, and your family, have fun, and get a bit more money too (without working yourself to the bone every day).
This is exactly why more physicians are seeking side hustles. It’s a great solution to supplement income, gain flexibility, and pursue passions outside of traditional practice. Whether it’s exploring new interests or diversifying income streams, side hustles are a valuable outlet for many physicians.
But let’s be honest: building and growing a side hustle can be a daunting task. Time management, marketing, and operations can feel like insurmountable obstacles.
Today let’s make that dream a bit more achievable, with AI as a way to simplify your work. Here’s how and we’ve included some tools to get you started!
Note: While these are general suggestions, it’s important to conduct thorough research and due diligence when selecting AI tools. We do not endorse or promote any specific AI tools mentioned here.
Table of Contents
How AI Can Help Physicians with Time Management
One of the primary barriers to physicians growing their side hustles is managing their time. With busy clinical schedules, finding space to build and run a business can be daunting. Fortunately, AI can help automate and optimize these processes.
Automation of Administrative Tasks
AI can take over routine administrative duties, such as handling paperwork, sending follow-up emails, and managing correspondence.
Tools like Nuance’s Dragon Medical One can streamline clinical documentation, reducing the time spent on electronic health records (EHR) by nearly 48% for users, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
This frees up hours that physicians can use to focus on scaling their ventures.
- AI Tool: Nuance Dragon Medical One
- Price: Starts at approximately $99 per month.
- Why It’s Good: This tool significantly reduces documentation time, allowing physicians to dedicate more time to patient care and business development.
Scheduling and Appointment Management
Managing bookings for consultations or meetings can eat into valuable time. AI-powered scheduling tools can automate this process, eliminating back-and-forth emails by offering clients convenient self-booking options. For instance, Clockwise optimizes calendar management by automatically scheduling meetings and protecting focus time based on user preferences.
- AI Tool: Clockwise
- Price: Free for basic features; paid plans start at $10 per user per month.
- Why It’s Good: By automating scheduling, it minimizes disruptions and maximizes productive work hours for physicians.
Virtual Consultations
For physicians running side hustles in telemedicine or health coaching, AI-powered virtual consultation platforms allow them to provide care without being physically present. Platforms like Doxy.me include AI-driven analytics that help doctors assess patient needs quickly and efficiently. This not only enhances patient care but also maximizes the physician’s time.
- AI Tool: Doxy.me
- Price: Free for basic features; paid plans start at $35 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It enables seamless virtual consultations while providing critical analytics that improve patient outcomes and efficiency.
How AI Can Help Physicians with Marketing
Marketing can feel like a foreign language to many physicians. Building a brand, engaging on social media, and generating leads is essential for scaling a side hustle, but these tasks can be overwhelming for someone with no prior experience. AI simplifies and accelerates marketing efforts.
Content Creation and Generation
AI-driven content creation tools can generate blog posts, social media updates, and marketing emails based on physician-provided inputs. For example, platforms like ChatGPT assist in generating tailored content efficiently, allowing doctors to maintain a consistent online presence without dedicating large amounts of time to writing.
- AI Tool: ChatGPT
- Price: Free for basic access; subscription plans start at $20 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It helps create high-quality content quickly, enabling physicians to engage effectively with their audience without the burden of extensive writing.
- ChatGPT Prompts:
Social Media Management
Managing social media accounts can become a full-time job on its own. AI tools like Hootsuite automate posting schedules, generate hashtags, and provide data-driven insights into content performance. This helps physicians make informed decisions about their social media strategy without constant monitoring.
- AI Tool: Hootsuite
- Price: Plans start at $19 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It streamlines social media management, allowing physicians to maintain an active online presence with minimal effort.
Lead Generation and Conversion
AI tools can help physicians identify and engage potential clients through automated email sequences and targeted advertising. For instance, HubSpot uses AI to analyze visitor data and behavior patterns, creating personalized experiences that improve conversion rates.
- AI Tool: HubSpot
- Price: Free for basic features; paid plans start at $45 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It enhances lead generation efforts through automation and personalization, making it easier for physicians to convert prospects into clients.
How AI Can Help Physicians with Operations
Efficient operations are the backbone of any successful side hustle. Whether it’s managing patient data, keeping track of inventory, or handling finances, AI can significantly ease these operational burdens.
Patient Data Management
For physicians working in telemedicine or offering health-related services, patient data management is critical. AI systems like Epic Systems help organize, analyze, and secure patient information while ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA. These solutions enhance accuracy and streamline workflows.
- AI Tool: Epic Systems
- Price: Pricing varies; typically negotiated based on practice size and needs.
- Why It’s Good: It provides comprehensive data management capabilities that improve patient care while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Inventory and Supply Chain Management
For physicians involved in product-based side hustles—such as selling health-related merchandise—inventory management is crucial. An excellent tool for this is Zoho Inventory, which offers robust inventory tracking features along with integrations for e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Shopify.
- AI Tool: Zoho Inventory
- Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $39 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It automates inventory tracking across multiple sales channels, ensuring accurate stock levels while simplifying order management processes.
Financial Management
AI can assist in financial planning and invoicing through tools like QuickBooks, which automates routine financial tasks to help physicians keep their books in order without needing extensive financial knowledge.
- AI Tool: QuickBooks
- Price: Plans start at $25 per month.
- Why It’s Good: It simplifies financial management by automating invoicing and expense tracking, allowing physicians to focus more on their practice than on paperwork.
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Conclusion
To summarize, the potential for AI to help physicians like you build and scale side hustles is immense. There are already numerous stories of individuals who have successfully incorporated AI into their side hustles, resulting in increased efficiency, better time management, and overall business growth.
For example, some doctors have used AI to streamline telemedicine practices, while others have automated their marketing efforts, freeing up time for clinical work.
As Jeff Bezos has famously said, “Machine learning and AI is a horizontal enabling layer… It will empower and improve every business, every government organization, every philanthropy—basically there’s no institution in the world that cannot be improved with machine learning.”
This is very true, especially for physicians who are not only in the medical field but are also exploring entrepreneurship as well. AI offers a way to overcome common hurdles, giving doctors the tools to thrive in both medicine and business. So if you want to stay ahead, embrace AI’s potential.
Those who adapt will find it easier to balance their clinical responsibilities with the demands of growing a side hustle. Say goodbye to golden handcuffs!
If you’re a physician ready to take the next step, subscribe to our newsletter and access our free AI resource page, where you can explore tools designed to help doctors like you streamline operations, save time, and scale your side hustle. As always, make it happen!
Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on available public data and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. It’s recommended to contact the respective companies/individuals for detailed information on features, pricing, and availability.
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Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.
Further Reading
