THE TIP SHEET, #5: Navigating the Challenges of Growth—Insights and Strategies for Expanding Your OMS Practice

Expanding your OMS practice is an exciting opportunity, yet it often comes with a new set of challenges. As your practice grows, it can be hard to balance where and when to reinvest in the practice versus enjoying some of the rewards of the years of hard work. In my experience as CEO of Allied OMS and having spent 20 years in ambulatory healthcare practices, I have seen firsthand the strategies that can have the highest rate of return while allowing you to keep your standards for patient care and staff engagement and happiness top of market. I’ve shared some of them below, along with how to put them into practice so that these good ideas become habits, and ways to take advantage of the benefits that frequently exist with being part of a larger group of surgeons.

1. Scaling Operations: A Methodical Approach

• Invest in Systems and Infrastructure: As your practice expands, having the right systems in place is critical. This includes everything from patient management software to financial tracking and reporting systems. But are you regularly reviewing the reports and reviewing trends to understand where to focus on improvements? As the saying goes, what gets measured gets done. Make sure you’re using technology that scales with your practice’s growth, can readily report out Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and enables seamless integration across multiple locations.
• Streamline Administrative Processes: Efficient administrative processes are key to handling growth without compromising patient experience. Consider outsourcing or automating administrative tasks where possible. Cross-training your staff can also ensure your practice does not miss a beat when someone is out due to sickness or vacation. This frees up your team to focus on what they do best—providing top-quality care for your patients.
• Build a Strong Support Team: Hiring and retaining the right staff is essential to growth. At Allied OMS, we support our partners with a robust benefits program along with recruitment and training programs to ensure that each new location operates smoothly and maintains high standards of service. See our tips for hiring all-star staff here.

2. Maintaining Quality of Care During Expansion

• Standardize Best Practices: One of the challenges of growing a multi-location practice is ensuring that quality remains consistent across all locations. Implementing standardized protocols for patient care, from consultation to post-op, ensures that every patient receives the same exceptional level of service, no matter which location they visit.
• Regular Training and Development: The continuous development of your staff and surgical team is vital to maintaining high-quality care. Regularly scheduled training and workshops ensure everyone is up-to-date on the latest procedures, technologies, and patient care standards.
• Emphasize Patient-Centered Care: Growth should never come at the expense of the patient experience. As you expand, continue to foster a culture where patient care is the top priority. This includes personalized treatment plans, clear communication, and following up on patient outcomes to ensure satisfaction. When you’ve provided 5-star service, make sure it gets shared. When you’ve got room for improvement, provide a feedback loop to let the patients know that you want to provide only the best service for them.

3. Managing Multi-Location Practices

• Centralize Operations for Efficiency: With multiple locations, it’s crucial to have centralized operations for things like insurance verification, billing, patient scheduling, and supplies management. Centralization is key to getting the most out of your practice and maximizing the efficiency of your staff, so you don’t have duplication of efforts in each location.
• Foster a Unified Culture: A unified practice culture helps ensure that no matter where a patient is seen, they experience the same level of care, communication, and professionalism. At Allied OMS, we prioritize strong internal communication and alignment between all locations to ensure consistency in patient experience.
• Leverage Data for Decision-Making: Use data from all locations to monitor patient trends, financial performance, and operational efficiency. By leveraging this data, you can make informed decisions about where to expand next, what processes need optimization, and how to improve patient care. At Allied OMS, our deep database enables rapid benchmarking and sharing of best practices, helping your practice reach peak performance in your market.

4. Utilize a Share Ownership Strategy 

• Empowering Growth Through Ownership: One of the most powerful ways to align growth with practice culture is by offering share ownership opportunities to your team. At Allied OMS, we provide a unique share ownership strategy, allowing doctors to take an active role in the success of the practice and the platform. This not only encourages long-term investment in the practice’s growth but also fosters a sense of ownership and commitment amongst the team.
• Ownership Without the Hassle: Many doctors dream of owning a practice but are deterred by the complexities of managing it. With our share ownership strategy, you can enjoy the benefits of ownership while being supported by a management team that handles the operational challenges and a network of surgeons who can coach you along the way. This allows you to focus on delivering exceptional patient care without the administrative burden.
• Attracting and Retaining Talent: Offering ownership opportunities helps attract top talent to your practice and ensures they remain invested in your growth. It also enhances the overall culture, as employees become more motivated when they have a stake in the practice’s success.

5. Student Loan Repayment Options

• Alleviate Financial Pressure: One of the most common challenges that young professionals face is student loan debt. At Allied OMS, we understand this burden and offer student loan repayment options to help ease the financial stress. These programs are designed to support new team members and ensure they have the financial flexibility to focus on their practice, not just their debt.
• Enhance Employee Retention: By offering student loan repayment options, you make your practice an attractive choice for top talent. This benefit not only helps recruit younger professionals but also encourages long-term retention, ensuring your practice grows with skilled and committed team members.

6. Be an Employee AND an Owner: The Best of Both Worlds

• Ownership Without the Risk: At Allied OMS, we offer doctors the opportunity to be both employees and owners of the practice. This means you get the stability and security of being an employee—backed by a team that supports you—but also the rewards of ownership. You gain a share in the practice’s growth and success, all while enjoying the flexibility that comes with a well-supported role in a growing organization.
• Work-Life Balance: Ownership can be demanding, but with the right support system, it doesn’t have to come at the expense of work-life balance. As part of Allied OMS, you get to enjoy the benefits of ownership without the constant pressure of managing every aspect of the practice.

The Bottom Line: Grow Without Pain

Growing your OMS practice presents both challenges and exciting opportunities. By focusing on efficient operations, maintaining high-quality care, and offering unique benefits like share ownership and student loan repayment, you can scale successfully while keeping your team motivated and your patients satisfied. At Allied OMS, we’ve seen firsthand how these strategies foster growth while preserving the integrity of the practice. If you’re ready to expand and thrive in today’s competitive landscape, let’s set up a consult to plan your path to partnership.