How to Boss Around AI (And Actually Get Your Life Back)

Let me ask you something: How many hours did you spend last week writing insurance authorization letters, creating patient handouts, or typing up notes that felt like busy work?

If you're like most physicians, the answer is "way too many."

Here's what I've learned after using AI tools for over a year: These tools can give you back significant time every week—but only if you know how to be their boss.

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

Stop thinking of AI as this mystical, complicated technology that's either going to replace you or confuse you.

Start thinking of it as your newest employee.

An employee who:

• Never calls in sick
• Never quits after feedback
• Can write professional letters in 30 seconds
• Works 24/7 without overtime pay
• Does exactly what you tell it to do (when you give good instructions)

But like any employee, it needs training, clear instructions, and management.

The Three Non-Negotiable Rules

Rule #1: Give Clear Instructions

Just like you wouldn't tell a human employee "do something with this patient," you can't throw vague requests at AI and expect useful results.

Instead of: "Write me a letter" Try: "I need a professional letter for a patient requesting FSA coverage for their gym membership. The patient is 45 years old with diabetes and hypertension. Make it formal but accessible."

The difference in output quality is remarkable.

Rule #2: Practice Before Going Live

I tested three different AI scribes before finding one that could handle my complex primary care visits where I'm discussing 4-7 different problems in one appointment.

Don't make the mistake of trying a new tool during patient care without understanding how it works. You'll end up recreating notes from scratch and swearing off the technology entirely.

Rule #3: Remember You're the Boss

If your AI tool is creating more work instead of less, you have two options:

1. Retrain it with better instructions
2. Fire it and find a better tool

This technology exists to serve you, not to add another layer of complexity to your already overwhelming day.

Where I'm Actually Using AI (And How It's Changed My Practice)

AI Scribe: The Game Changer

After trying multiple options, I found Heidi AI Scribe (no financial relationship—I pay for it myself). It handles my complex multi-problem visits, creates customizable templates, and even generates referral letters.

The best part? It's not connected to my EMR, so there are no patient identifiers—just medical information. This gives me peace of mind about confidentiality while still getting the efficiency benefits.

Letter Writing: From Hours to Minutes

Remember spending 20 minutes Googling letter templates? Now I ask ChatGPT: "Write a professional letter supporting gym membership for FSA coverage" and get exactly what I need in 30 seconds.

Insurance authorizations, sick notes, professional correspondence—all done in minutes instead of hours.

Content Creation: Working Smarter, Not Harder

This blog post you're reading? I gave my AI employee the podcast transcript and clear instructions about my style and audience. It produced this content in minutes.

Am I cheating? No. I'm being strategic about where I spend my time and energy. I generate the ideas and insights—AI just helps me get them to you faster and in multiple formats.

Personal Coaching: Your 24/7 Advisor

I created a custom GPT that acts as my executive coach. When I'm stuck on a decision or need to clarify my values, I can have a conversation with it anytime.

Is it the same as human coaching? No. But it's incredibly helpful for working through thoughts when my human coaches aren't available.

The Areas You Should Try First

Start with repetitive writing tasks that don't require your medical expertise:

• Insurance authorization letters
• Patient education handouts
• Professional correspondence
• Policy and procedure documents
• Research summaries

Pick ONE area and experiment this week.

The Future Is Already Here

AI tools are becoming standard in healthcare whether we embrace them or not. You can either learn to boss them around effectively, or you can keep drowning in administrative tasks that could be automated.

I vote for bossing them around.

Ready to Reclaim Your Time?

If you're spending too many hours on tasks that don't require your medical expertise, it's time to make a change. AI tools can help, but they're just one piece of the puzzle.

Listen to the full episode where I share specific examples of how I use these tools daily and the exact instructions that work best.

Want more strategies for working smarter instead of harder? Join my email list for weekly messages that remind you how powerful and capable you really are.

Or if you're ready to overhaul how you approach your time and energy but don't know where to start, schedule a coaching discovery call with me. Together, we'll create a plan that honors both your commitment to excellent patient care and your need for a sustainable career.

The bottom line: You deserve tools that actually help. You deserve to spend your time on what matters most. And you definitely deserve to stop drowning in administrative busy work.

Your AI employee is waiting to be hired. What will you ask it to do first?