Business

Psychiatrist creates "Web" of training tools

A North Carolina psychiatrist offers online information and services to health care professionals.

By Tyler Chin — Posted Feb. 21, 2005

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Making sidelines pay

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Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it.
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Name: T. Bradley Tanner, MD

Specialty: Psychiatry

Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.

Business: Clinical Tools Inc. Dr. Tanner's company offers online-based education, training and tools for electronic grant submissions to physicians, researchers and other health care professionals.

Annual revenue: $1 million in contracts and grants from government agencies.

Why he started the business: "During my residency in psychiatry, I realized that the then-new Internet would have the ability to provide unprecedented opportunities to reach patients and physicians with information," Dr. Tanner said.

"Together with another resident, I submitted a Small Business Innovation Research grant to the National Institute of Mental Health to use new media to create patient education materials. From that work, it became clear that there was an opportunity in provider education as well."

Why he keeps practicing: Dr. Tanner practices an average of two hours weekly because he finds it professionally and personally rewarding.

"Since the company's purpose is health care education I think it helps to be involved somewhat in the day-to-day reality of health care. Also, I like working with residents," Dr. Tanner said.

Words of wisdom: "Small business can be just as challenging as medicine, and nothing in medical school or residency prepares you for the day-to-day hassles of management.

"Medicine is a calling, and entrepreneurs should carefully evaluate if they will be able to achieve the same level of satisfaction and fulfillment from a career that does not involve directly working with patients ... I have learned to pace myself, and I have had to learn to delegate. Nevertheless, in the end, I am responsible for the final decisions, which can be both tiring and exhilarating."

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