#256 How Doctors Can Use Virtual Assistants to Save Time and Scale Their Income ft. Peter Kim, MD

Why Doctors Shouldn’t Do It All

Dr. Peter Kim opens the episode by talking about a big challenge many doctors face: being overwhelmed by tasks that don’t actually need a medical degree. He introduces virtual assistants (VAs) as a powerful solution to help doctors save time, reduce stress, and even make more money. He wants listeners to rethink how they spend their time—and stop trying to do everything themselves.

He explains that doctors often waste hours every week on emails, scheduling, paperwork, and managing their side hustles—things that take time away from what really matters. Instead of spending time with family or focusing on patients, they’re stuck doing low-value tasks. He says it’s time to delegate so they can focus on high-impact activities.

Peter knows that giving up control isn’t easy. Many physicians think they don’t have enough work to justify a VA, or that no one else can do things the “right” way. But he pushes back on that idea and says, with a little reflection and openness, most doctors can find plenty of tasks to delegate.

He makes it clear: hiring a VA isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must if you want to grow, avoid burnout, and live a more balanced life. In fact, he once thought the same way but changed his mind after seeing how much a VA helped him.

All the Things a VA Can Help With

Next, Peter dives into what a VA can actually do—and it’s a lot more than people expect. He starts with simple admin tasks like answering emails, booking appointments, and handling billing. Then he moves into marketing and content creation, like social media posts and email newsletters—especially helpful if you’re trying to grow a brand or business.

He also points out how VAs can support real estate investors. They can help screen tenants, communicate with property managers, research markets, and organize investment data. If you’re trying to manage rentals or explore new opportunities, a VA can take on most of the busywork.

What surprises many doctors is that there are also medical virtual assistants. These VAs are trained to help in healthcare settings and are HIPAA-compliant. They can schedule patients, handle insurance verification, do medical billing, and even act as scribes to help with charting.

Peter explains this to show that VAs are not just helpful—they’re incredibly versatile. No matter what kind of support you need, there’s likely a VA who can take it off your plate.

How I Personally Use VAs

In this part, Peter shares his own experience using VAs in both his personal life and business. He talks about how his personal assistant handles his travel, schedules, emails, calls, and even family errands like booking haircuts or kids’ activities. This frees him up to focus on what matters most.

He doesn’t stop there. Peter also has VAs for design work, tech support, and more. His message is simple: there’s probably someone out there who can do almost any task better and faster than you—so why not let them?

He encourages doctors to shift their mindset. You don’t have to be the one doing everything, especially if it’s not your strength. Let trained professionals help you, so you can focus on your zone of genius.

Peter puts it plainly: hiring VAs has made his life easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

A Simple Guide to Hiring Your First VA

Peter now walks listeners through the steps to actually hire a VA. First, write down everything you do in a week—then figure out what only you can do, what you don’t enjoy, and what someone else could easily take over. That’s your list of tasks to delegate.

Then, choose a platform to find a VA. Peter recommends sites like Upwork, Fiverr, OnlineJobs.ph, Virtual Latinos, Hello Rache, and Medva. For more hands-on help, services like Phyllis Song Consulting can match you with someone. Once you’ve got candidates, give them a small paid test project to see how they work.

After choosing the right VA, set clear expectations. Explain their tasks, how you’ll communicate, and how performance will be measured. Tools like Slack, Asana, and WhatsApp can help keep everything organized.

The real magic, Peter says, happens over time. As you build trust, your VA will get to know how you work—and eventually start anticipating your needs like a true assistant.

Real Stories + Your VA Starter Guide

To wrap up the episode, Peter shares powerful examples of how virtual assistants have changed real doctors’ lives. One physician runs a full-time real estate business and practices medicine—with a VA managing broker communication, research, and property spreadsheets. Another doctor uses a HIPAA-compliant VA to handle insurance verification and charting, saving hours every day and significantly reducing after-work burnout.

The impact of hiring the right VA goes way beyond time savings. It gives doctors the freedom to leave work on time, be present with their families, or explore new opportunities they didn’t have space for before. Whether it’s starting a new business, investing in real estate, or simply enjoying more personal time, having a VA makes it possible.

Peter encourages every physician to take a small step—start by delegating just one or two tasks. Then, as you build trust, grow the relationship and offload more. He also emphasizes how affordable it can be, with experienced VAs often charging between $6 to $15 an hour. When you compare that to the value of your time, the trade-off becomes obvious.

To make this even easier, Peter points listeners to a free resource that walks you through every step: The Ultimate Physician’s Guide to Hiring a Virtual Assistant.

This downloadable guide includes signs you need a VA, what tasks they can take on, where to find the best candidates, key interview questions, onboarding tips, and essential tools to manage your new assistant. It’s packed with physician-specific advice to help you stop spinning your wheels and finally get the support you need.