Dr. Ben Barton, Medical Consultant and author, is speaking out to debunk five persistent myths that continue to mislead medical professionals in his field. Based on years of consulting with cash-based medical practices, Barton says these myths are not just wrong—they quietly shape decisions that create stress, inefficiency, and burnout.
“Most clinicians aren’t failing because they lack skill,” Barton says. “They’re struggling because they were taught the wrong things about how practices actually work.”
Below are five myths Barton says keep showing up.
Myth #1: “If you’re a great clinician, the business will take care of itself.”
Why people believe it: Clinical training is intense and demanding. Many providers assume excellence in care naturally leads to a healthy practice.
The correction: Industry surveys show that over 60% of physicians feel unprepared for the business side of practice ownership, regardless of clinical ability. Quality care alone does not create structure.
“Medical training is intense,” Barton says. “But business education is often missing from the picture.”
Try this today: Write down how decisions are made in your practice. If it’s unclear, that’s a signal—not a failure.
Myth #2: “You need complex systems to run a successful practice.”
Why people believe it: Technology, dashboards, and jargon are often marketed as necessities.
The correction: Complexity often hides problems instead of solving them. Barton says most struggling practices don’t lack tools—they lack clarity.
“I don’t think complexity helps people,” he says. “Clarity does.”
Try this today: Simplify one process. Remove one step that causes confusion or delay.
Myth #3: “Most problems are big and obvious.”
Why people believe it: People expect failure to be dramatic or sudden.
The correction: Barton’s experience shows the opposite. Problems usually come from small decisions repeated over time.
“Most problems aren’t dramatic,” Barton says. “They’re the result of small choices repeated over time.”
Try this today: Identify one recurring issue you’ve been tolerating. Ask what small decision keeps it in place.
Myth #4: “You have to fix everything at once.”
Why people believe it: Overwhelm creates urgency. Urgency leads to overcorrection.
The correction: Sustainable change happens step by step. Barton compares business growth to high-altitude climbing.
“You don’t rush a mountain,” he says. “If you skip steps, you feel it.”
Try this today: Choose one area to improve this month. Ignore the rest for now.
Myth #5: “If something feels off, you just need to work harder.”
Why people believe it: Healthcare culture rewards effort and sacrifice.
The correction: More effort does not fix broken systems. According to data on small businesses, nearly 20% fail in their first year, often due to operational issues—not a lack of effort.
“You don’t build trust with big promises,” Barton says. “You build it by doing the work when no one is watching.”
Try this today: Pause before pushing harder. Ask whether the system—not the workload—is the real issue.
If You Only Remember One Thing
Most struggles are not personal failures. They are system problems. And systems can be changed.
“You don’t have to overhaul everything,” Barton says. “You just need to stop operating on assumptions.”
Call to Action
Dr. Barton encourages readers to share this list of myths with a colleague and try just one practical tip today. Small changes, applied consistently, can shift how a practice operates over time.
“Great care deserves great systems,” he says.
About Dr. Ben Barton
Dr. Ben Barton is a Medical Consultant with Regen Medical Consulting and the author of Practice Prosperity: The Six Biggest Mistakes Costing You Millions. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, he works with cash-based medical practices to improve structure, decision-making, and long-term sustainability. He holds degrees from Appalachian State University, Clemson University, and Palmer College of Chiropractic and is a long-time volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Make-A-Wish.
Media Contact
Contact Person: Dr. Ben Barton
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City: Charleston
State: South Carolina
Country: United States
Website: www.drbenbarton.com
