Starting Fast: A Guide to Your First 90 Days in Private Practice

There are many great reasons to be in private practice. It’s a rewarding career with high earning potential that gives you the freedom and flexibility to best care for your patients.

But working as an independent physician or dentist doesn’t come without its challenges. After all, it’s a business that must be managed well in order to be profitable.

As a new business owner, you may be required to wear a lot of different hats – the chief operating officer, chief financial officer, compliance officer, human resource manager, marketing director and more. At the end of the day, managing the business will require a lot more of you than what was taught in medical or dental school.

There’s a lot to think about before your first day. So if you’re feeling a bit nervous or overwhelmed right now – that’s okay!

Whether you’re buying an old practice, buying into a partnership, or starting from scratch, your first 90 days on the job will make a big impression and set the course for the future.

With that in mind, we want to offer 3 pieces of advice for helping you get off to a fast start as a new private practice physician.

1. Relax, No Need to Stress!

Don’t get rattled by anxious thoughts or nervousness. Everybody feels that way before starting a new job. Rest assured that you are perfectly normal.

The nerves will go away soon enough. In the meantime, try to be in the moment and enjoy the early days. Don’t beat yourself up with high expectations. Give yourself permission to learn and grow into the new role. You shouldn’t expect to fill in the shoes of a veteran physician from day one.

Finally, remember that you have people around you that want to help you succeed. Your administrative and clinical team will be eager to help you succeed. Lean on your office manager for help and keep her in the loop with any questions or concerns. You can also seek out a mentor who can give you advice having been in that position before.

2. Focus on Building Relationships

First impressions matter. How you treat your new staff in the early days will imprint a reputation that won’t be easy to shake. Better make sure it’s a good one! It’s wise to start by focusing your energy on building trust, staying positive, and assessing your starting position.

Building trust starts by listening more than you talk. Sometimes people feel a need to prove themselves early on, so they form an opinion before they really know what they’re talking about. Step into your new role with humility and look for opportunities to learn from those around you.

Make a genuine effort to get to know each member of your team. Ask them questions about their day-to-day activities. What do they enjoy? What are their frustrations? Get to know them on a personal level.

Building relationships fast is easy when you bring a positive attitude and energy into the office. Be intentional about complimenting your staff and colleagues when they do something well. A little positive feedback from time to time can make a huge difference in how well you’re received and boosting team morale.

Lastly, remember that your first 90 days is the time to assess your situation. It’s not the time to make bold, sweeping changes.

If you’re buying into an older practice, chances are good that they’ve been successful before you for a reason. Keep intact the processes that are working well. You will have your chance to put your stamp on the practice soon enough.

3. Identify Quick Wins

While assessing your starting position, you may get excited about big opportunities you identify to improve the business. That’s great, but big changes don’t happen overnight. It’s best to leverage the power of quick wins to build your confidence and momentum.

Think of 3-5 small and achievable goals for your first 90 days. A few examples you might consider include:

1. Establish a habit of having effective morning huddles with my team.
2. Meet with each team member to discuss the vision I have for the Practice.
3. Work with my team and begin to adopt written policies and procedures to manage the Practice.
4. Maintain a financial record system that is most appropriate for my practice and complies with the recommendation of my accountant.
5. I will learn to distinguish among the roles of Provider of Care, Manager, and Leader in my Practice. I will also learn when it is appropriate for me to function in these roles or delegate responsibilities to others on my behalf.

The ability to set clear goals with your team and follow through is a hallmark of a great leader. Starting small in the beginning will build your confidence and credibility among your team as a leader who knows how to get things done.

Moving Forward with Confidence

The first 90 days of any new job can be an intimidating endeavor. Starting in private practice in no exception.

The good news is that you are well qualified for the challenge!

Know too that you’re not alone on the journey. Colleagues, office managers, and consultants such as ourselves are all here to make sure you succeed. Our mission is to help you practice on purpose – caring for your patients and reaching your goals.

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Do you remember getting your start in private practice? What advice would you give for the first 90 days? We would appreciate your thoughts and comments below.