Dr. Anna Chacon Discusses Building Miami Derm and Navigating Telehealth // EP 154

In this episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle, Alex Quin chats with Dr. Anna Chacon, founder of Miami Derm. Dr. Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, shares her journey from working in major healthcare institutions to establishing a successful private practice that leverages telemedicine. Licensed in all 50 states, she emphasizes how telehealth skyrocketed during COVID-19 and discusses the challenges of balancing in-person care with a growing virtual practice. Dr. Chacon talks about the high costs of setting up a brick-and-mortar clinic in Miami, the advantages of being an independent physician, and the struggles of entering insurance networks. The conversation also delves into the ways artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the healthcare industry, helping her practice run efficiently while providing top-notch patient care.

Episode Outline

[00:04] – Introduction to Dr. Anna Chacon and her background as a board-certified dermatologist

[00:35] – Founding Miami Derm and the rise of teledermatology

[01:47] – Telehealth's growth during the COVID-19 pandemic

[02:52] – Navigating changing telehealth laws and working across all 50 states

[03:56] – Setting up an in-person practice: costs, challenges, and why patients want hands-on options

[04:57] – Dr. Chacon’s career inspiration from her father, and the importance of independence in healthcare

[09:05] – Leadership lessons from being a Latina entrepreneur in a male-dominated field

[10:49] – Productivity tips: time management, virtual assistants, and daily team huddles

[14:40] – Insurance challenges in Miami: Why many independent physicians struggle to join networks

[20:13] – How artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing her practice with tools like automatic transcription

[26:26] – The future of augmented reality in healthcare and new AI developments

Wisdom Nuggets

Telemedicine's Exponential Growth: COVID-19 highlighted the value of telemedicine, and Dr. Chacon has embraced the shift to virtual care, now licensed across all 50 states. The ease of telemedicine helps her balance her passion for personalized care with patient demands.

Challenges of Starting a Physical Practice: Opening a brick-and-mortar clinic in a competitive and expensive market like Miami has its challenges. Despite this, Dr. Chacon's in-person clinic allows her to serve patients who want hands-on care for more complex procedures.

AI Enhances Productivity: Dr. Chacon uses AI tools to streamline her note-taking process, making her practice more efficient. The time saved allows her to focus more on patient care, increasing overall productivity.

Insurance Access Barriers: Many independent physicians in Miami struggle to join insurance networks, despite the demand for care. Dr. Chacon sheds light on this issue and the impact it has on patients who want to see doctors outside large hospital systems.

Staying Independent as a Physician: Learning from her father's experience, Dr. Chacon has focused on maintaining independence in her career, ensuring that no hospital or corporation can "drop" her practice without warning.

Power Quotes:

"AI has changed everything. I no longer stay at work until 11 PM writing notes—now I press a button, and the whole visit is transcribed." - Dr Anna Chacon

"I use virtual assistants and AI tools that make us available 24/7, because that’s what patients expect now." - Dr Anna Chacon

Connect with Dr. Anna

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/miamiderm)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/miamiderm

Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)

Website: (https://alexquin.com)

T