02 February. 2023
by : Nushift
Fears surrounding the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 have increased engagement with the digital health world. The outbreak has shown how a country like India needs to speed up the adoption of technology to address the need of the masses. There have been frequent delays in testing and there has also been a lack of remote care support. This has hampered our ability to monitor the spread of coronavirus accurately
Why physician networking is important
It has been seen that doctors who have a peer group to interact with are more likely to know of the latest trends in the medical field in comparison to other doctors. Networking allows you to change practices, add additional patients and also get referrals from other physicians, and also expand your practice. You also get the opportunity for freelance consultation opportunities if you're looking to increase your revenue or you might also be able to find someone who will help you to lighten the load in your patient pool.
Other than work, physician networking can also help you to get answers to highly relevant questions about retirement, investing, and other financial matters. If you talk to your family or friends about these subjects it can be helpful, however, networking with other doctors gives you a sounding board of perspectives that is very similar to your own. Other physicians are also very much aware of the problems and concerns that you face as a doctor and will be able to give you good advice that is rooted in their own experiences.
Networking can also help you to stay on top of pertinent trends in your medical field or speciality. For instance, as the need and the efficiency of telehealth expand, talking about it with peers will help you to take good decisions regarding implementing it yourself. If you understand the pros and cons of an ever-changing medical landscape, it will also be easier when you have a reliable network.
Strategies for networking
Unfortunately, the process of networking is not as simple as attending a few conferences. If you create a network that can help further your career and financial goals, this can happen through intentional acts and you will be able to be there in the right place at the right time. Certainly, going to conferences or other healthcare-focused functions might also help you to find like-minded individuals, but at times, deliberate action garners better results.
First and the most important thing that you will have to first understand is your goal. If you want to branch out in your practice, you should try to find conferences in your area that caters to your specific concerns within your medical field. For instance, if you are a specialist, you should look for meeting people specific to your niche.
It is also important, however, not to limit your scope to just medical conferences. If your goal is to understand how to pivot your practice to meet certain financial goals — expansion or retirement, etc. — you should seek financial conferences. You will also have to understand what you want to explore to network in a way that will be beneficial for you.
Consider online networking
There are several physicians present who focus on online social networks where they can reach out and connect with other people in your field. You can also join the associations that are relevant to your practice, which may often have virtual or in-person meetings where you can meet with other physicians.
Talk to your peers
If you work in a business setting or a hospital, you should simply bring up your topics with your work friends and colleagues. Most doctors are going through the same stresses as you are and have similar questions and concerns about the future. There might also be some of them who have changed or are considering changing fields, while there might be some others who are preparing to leave a clinical setting for a research one.
Connecting with a purpose
Networking is not something that you need to leave behind when you start your career. Physicians need to continue education regarding their specialization and long-term concerns, like finances or retirement.
You should also consider leaning into the people whom you know already, and you should also branch out at conferences, within associations, or online. You will find that the effort you place in networking can pay back significantly, irrespective of whether you are looking to expand your business, prepare for a life change or looking to expand into telehealth and virtual medicine.
Very important for you to be yourself
There is a very high possibility that you decided to become a doctor because you think that you are a good fit for your personality and it is also highly possible that the rest of the doctors in the room did the same thing! All physicians are indeed different. But the combination of passion and the work ethic that is required to get where you are is something you have in common. So you should not worry about trying to stand out or fit in. Being yourself is the best way that will help you to connect with colleagues, especially if you are passionate about what you do.
Conclusion
You might not be the biggest social butterfly, but networking for doctors is a great opportunity that will help you to connect professionally. This will also help you to meet like-minded people and will also allow you to connect around your shared passion for medicine. Talking to other healthcare professionals can be a lot of fun. Chatting will help you to get referrals and job opportunities. It will also provide you with options for mentorship, will provide you advice on different career paths, and will also help you to know about the ways to expand your practice.