Physicians Hanging a Shingle | Start a Private Medical Practice

In this episode of the Thursday Shift, let's explore a common misconception about starting a private practice: That you've waited too late. POV: It's never too late! 📌 Resources: And if you want step-by-step guidance, check out my new digital course: Plan to Practice . It's a short course designed to take you from scattered practice ideas to a detailed, individualized business plan. Learn more ab...

Click here to sign up for Plan to Practice! Thinking about private practice but not sure where to start? The very first step is creating a business plan—not the stiff corporate kind, but one that reflects your vision. In this episode, I share: Why a business plan gives you clarity, confidence, and credibility Why your input matters more than a generic template The key parts every practice plan sho...

One of the biggest fears physicians face when launching a private practice is this: What if no one shows up? In this week’s Thursday Shift, we reframe that fear—and talk about what actually helps patients find you. We’ll cover how to create a solid marketing and referral plan, why physicians are in high demand (especially in private practice), and why marketing doesn’t have to feel gross. It can f...

Hiring is one of the biggest decisions you’ll face when opening a private practice — and it can feel overwhelming. Who should you hire first? What if you make the wrong choice? In this episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle, I break down the hiring process step by step so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn: The first roles to consider hiring (and how this varies by pra...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: You Don't Need an MBA to Start a Practice Think you need an MBA to open a private practice? Think again. In this week’s Thursday Sh...

In this episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle, I sit down with my medical school classmate, Dr. David Hardin, an internal medicine and sports medicine physician who has helped build a thriving direct primary care (DPC) practice incorporating really innovative technology to best care for his patients. We cover: The role of technology in creating efficiency, including how he uses tech in his own p...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: How Can I Make This Possible? Startup expenses are one of the biggest worries physicians face when thinking about private practice—...

Too many doctors jump into building their private practice by focusing on the wrong first steps — and end up overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck. In this episode, I’m sharing the 3 foundational steps physicians often skip when starting a practice… and why skipping them can cost you time, money, and momentum. Whether you’re just thinking about private practice or already halfway through the process, t...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: Naming Your Wins When building your private practice, it’s easy to end the day thinking only about what you didn’t get done. In thi...

If you’re opening a private practice, it’s easy to put the new patient forms on the back burner. But these aren’t just formalities — they’re essential tools for protecting your time, your team, and your practice. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about which forms you really need from the start, how to create them, and the common mistakes to avoid. ---- Want a list of the forms I mentioned in this ep...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: Are you really too busy to start a practice? Physicians are busy—always have been, always will be. But we’ve also learned how to ju...

Hiring is hard. But keeping great team members? That takes intention — and the right benefits. In today’s episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle, I’m sharing the top employee benefits I’ve found most impactful in running a private practice. These aren't just big-ticket items like salary and retirement (though we’ll cover those too) — we're also talking about the small, thoughtful touches that mak...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: Is It Really Easier to Stay Employed? If you’ve ever thought, “It’s just easier to stay employed,” you’re not alone. The paycheck i...

Your practice name is more than just a label — it’s your first impression, your brand foundation, and potentially your future asset. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the most important things to consider when naming your private practice. Whether you’re just starting to brainstorm or stuck between a few final options, this episode will help you move forward with confidence — and avoid some...

The Thursday Shift is a weekly dose of mindset support for physicians thinking about private practice. Each episode is around 5 minutes and helps reframe the fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that hold you back from building something of your own. This Week’s Shift: Overwhelmed by All the To-Dos? If your launch to-do list feels a mile long and you don’t even know where to begin, this episode is...

If you're launching a private practice, there's one document you must have in place before working with vendors who access patient data: the Business Associate Agreement (BAA). In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly what a BAA is, who needs to sign one, and how to make sure you're protected. Whether you're using a cloud-based EHR, outsourcing your billing, or working with a marketing agency...

You didn’t start your private practice to be on call 24/7. But when the clinic closes, the patient questions don’t stop—and if you don’t have a plan, your time and energy will suffer. In this episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle, we’re talking about how to handle after-hours patient communication in a way that protects your time, your sanity, and your standards of care. We’ll explore several op...

Three years ago, I opened the doors to my private practice — not knowing exactly what lay ahead, but trusting my vision, training, and purpose. In this milestone episode, I’m reflecting on 3 powerful lessons that have carried me through the highs and lows of building and running an independent clinic. Whether you're just starting out or a few years into your own journey, these takeaways are ones I...

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the crucial process of credentialing. Understanding the credentialing process is essential for your success. I’ll walk you through the steps you need to take, how long the process typically takes, whether you should handle it yourself or hire help, and what key information you’ll need to get started. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident and...

Choosing the right electronic health record (EHR) can make or break the workflow in your private practice. In this episode, I break down how to evaluate your options using a simple acronym: E-H-R. If you’re launching a new clinic, this framework will help you make a confident, informed decision that supports both your patient care and business operations.   Here’s what E-H-R stands for: E – Effici...

Planning the layout of your future clinic can feel like a mix of excitement and guesswork. How many exam rooms should you have? Do you need a lab or a procedure room? And what about space for your team — both now and in the future? In this episode, we walk through the essential spaces every private practice should consider, from waiting rooms and reception areas to triage zones and provider office...

In this episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked — yet essential — parts of launching your private practice: your mission statement. Before you choose a name, sign a lease, or hire a team… you need a clear understanding of your purpose. I’ll walk you through 5 key questions that will help you craft a mission statement that actually means something — one...

There's a critical layer of protection you can't afford to overlook when planning your new practice: insurance. It's not the most glamorous topic, but understanding the right coverage can be the difference between a minor hiccup and a major financial setback. In this week's podcast episode, we're cutting through the jargon and breaking down the essential types of insurance every practice needs. We...

In this week's episode of Physicians Hanging a Shingle we dive into an important step in getting patients in the door of your clinic...social media. I know, I know...hear me out! I had a very successful launch of my practice, largely in part to our social media presence and using Facebook as a marketing tool. In future episodes, we'll get into my entire social media marketing plan, but the first s...

Want to make a positive first impression and improve patient satisfaction from the moment they walk in? Tune into Episode 6 where I reveal the six things every good waiting room needs to have to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for your patients.   Download the FREE checklist I created to make sure you don't miss any important steps in the planning of your new medical practice. Click...