The medical practice playbook

Practical, workflow‑focused guides for small and independent practices.

Designed to reduce administrative burden, improve patient experience, and modernize your operations.

Small and independent practices deserve practical, immediately usable strategies — not generic advice. The Medical Practice Playbook brings together clear, step‑by‑step guidance to help you reduce administrative burden, improve patient experience, modernize your operations, and build a more sustainable practice.

Updated regularly with new insights, tools, and workflow tactics

Browse by topic

Operations

Administrative burden

Revenue

Patient experience

Digital transformation

AI

FEATURED

A curated set of foundational guides to help you understand the biggest challenges facing small and solo practices — and the strategies that make independence sustainable.

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

Digital transformation for small and solo practices: practical workflow strategies

Digital transformation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small and solo practices can modernize their workflows with simple, low‑lift changes that reduce workload, improve patient experience, and make each day more predictable. This guide outlines practical steps to help you choose the right tools in the right order.

How small practices can use AI without expensive tools or IT support

A practical guide for small practices that want to use AI to save time without buying expensive tools or hiring IT support. Learn simple ways to use AI for documentation, messaging, and daily workflows using tools you already have

Patient acquisition and retention strategies for busy practice leaders

Patient acquisition and retention don’t require expensive marketing or complex systems. Small and solo practices can grow sustainably by improving access, reducing friction, and strengthening continuity. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to help you attract the right patients and keep them engaged.

Simplify prior authorizations: workflow strategies for small and solo practices

Prior authorizations create unpredictable interruptions, delayed care, and uncompensated work for medical practices. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to make PAs faster, more predictable, and less disruptive to your day.

How independent practices can boost revenue by 10–20 percent despite Medicare cuts

Medicare cuts don’t have to shrink your margins. Independent practices can reliably increase revenue by 10–20 percent with targeted operational improvements. Here are the highest‑ROI strategies.

Top 5 challenges facing independent medical practices in 2026 (and how to overcome them)

Independent practices face rising administrative burden, reimbursement cuts, staffing shortages, and consolidation pressure in 2026. Here are the top challenges and practical strategies to stay profitable, efficient, and independent

TOPICS

Below you’ll find every Playbook post organized into practical categories. Each section includes workflow‑focused strategies you can apply immediately

Operations

Administrative burden

Revenue

Patient experience

Digital transformation

AI

OPERATIONS

Lean workflow strategies to reduce chaos, improve predictability, and streamline daily practice operations.

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

The future of independent practice: what small clinics and practices need to know

Private practice is changing, but it’s far from disappearing. Small practices can thrive in the future of healthcare by embracing lean workflows, modern tools, and patient‑centered design. This guide outlines the trends shaping the future of independent practice and the practical steps you can take to stay ahead.

The seven AI skills every clinician should know

Seven practical AI micro skills that help clinicians save time, reduce cognitive load, and improve documentation and messaging. These skills are simple enough to use daily in a small practice.

How small practices can use AI without expensive tools or IT support

A practical guide for small practices that want to use AI to save time without buying expensive tools or hiring IT support. Learn simple ways to use AI for documentation, messaging, and daily workflows using tools you already have

Simplify prior authorizations: workflow strategies for small and solo practices

Prior authorizations create unpredictable interruptions, delayed care, and uncompensated work for medical practices. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to make PAs faster, more predictable, and less disruptive to your day.

How independent practices can boost revenue by 10–20 percent despite Medicare cuts

Medicare cuts don’t have to shrink your margins. Independent practices can reliably increase revenue by 10–20 percent with targeted operational improvements. Here are the highest‑ROI strategies.

Top 5 challenges facing independent medical practices in 2026 (and how to overcome them)

Independent practices face rising administrative burden, reimbursement cuts, staffing shortages, and consolidation pressure in 2026. Here are the top challenges and practical strategies to stay profitable, efficient, and independent

ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN

Practical tools to simplify paperwork, reduce rework, and eliminate the tasks that drain your time.

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

The 5 most common revenue leaks in small practices

Five common revenue leaks that quietly drain small practices — and practical ways for you to fix them without adding complexity

How to reduce inbox overload without hiring more staff

Practical ways to reduce inbox volume and message rework so you can reclaim time without adding staff

Documentation shortcuts that don’t compromise quality

Practical ways for you to reduce documentation time without sacrificing clarity, quality, or compliance.

Simplify prior authorizations: workflow strategies for small and solo practices

Prior authorizations create unpredictable interruptions, delayed care, and uncompensated work for medical practices. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to make PAs faster, more predictable, and less disruptive to your day.

REVENUE

Clear, sustainable approaches to strengthen financial stability and support long‑term practice viability.

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

How to improve collections without adding friction for patients

Practical ways to improve collections and reduce outstanding balances without creating friction or damaging patient relationships.

Simplify prior authorizations: workflow strategies for small and solo practices

Prior authorizations create unpredictable interruptions, delayed care, and uncompensated work for medical practices. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to make PAs faster, more predictable, and less disruptive to your day.

How independent practices can boost revenue by 10–20 percent despite Medicare cuts

Medicare cuts don’t have to shrink your margins. Independent practices can reliably increase revenue by 10–20 percent with targeted operational improvements. Here are the highest‑ROI strategies.

PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Strategies to improve access, communication, and continuity so patients feel supported and stay engaged.

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

Reducing no‑shows and late cancellations: what actually works

Practical ways to reduce no‑shows and late cancellations so your schedule stays predictable and your practice runs smoothly.

Designing a modern patient intake experience (without expensive tools)

How to create a modern, low‑friction patient intake experience that saves you time and improves patient satisfaction — without buying expensive tools.

Patient acquisition and retention strategies for busy practice leaders

Patient acquisition and retention don’t require expensive marketing or complex systems. Small and solo practices can grow sustainably by improving access, reducing friction, and strengthening continuity. This guide outlines practical workflow strategies to help you attract the right patients and keep them engaged.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Modern, low‑lift digital workflows that reduce friction and support a more efficient, connected practice

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

Digital transformation for small and solo practices: practical workflow strategies

Digital transformation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small and solo practices can modernize their workflows with simple, low‑lift changes that reduce workload, improve patient experience, and make each day more predictable. This guide outlines practical steps to help you choose the right tools in the right order.

How to digitize your front desk without losing the human touch

How to digitize your front desk in a way that reduces friction and saves time — without losing the personal, human experience your patients value.

Choosing the right digital tools for a small practice (without overbuying)

How to choose the right digital tools for your small practice without overbuying, overcomplicating your workflows, or wasting money

How small practices can use AI without expensive tools or IT support

A practical guide for small practices that want to use AI to save time without buying expensive tools or hiring IT support. Learn simple ways to use AI for documentation, messaging, and daily workflows using tools you already have

AI IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Practical, safe ways to use AI to reduce workload, improve documentation, and support small‑practice workflows

Independent Medical Practice Playbook

AI for messaging: how small practices can reduce inbox burden

A practical guide to using AI to reduce inbox burden in small practices. Learn how to summarize messages, prevent spirals, and convert complex threads into visits.

The seven AI skills every clinician should know

Seven practical AI micro skills that help clinicians save time, reduce cognitive load, and improve documentation and messaging. These skills are simple enough to use daily in a small practice.

How small practices can use AI without expensive tools or IT support

A practical guide for small practices that want to use AI to save time without buying expensive tools or hiring IT support. Learn simple ways to use AI for documentation, messaging, and daily workflows using tools you already have

FREE STARTER RESOURCES

Want more practical tools for your practice?

Explore more free resources designed to help small and solo practices thrive:

Quick Wins — fast, high‑impact tactics you can implement today
Starter Guides — step‑by‑step workflows for core practice operations
Free Starter Resources — curated tools, scripts, and templates

Explore free resources

EXPLORE THE FULL PLAYBOOK

IOM 1/12/26 IOM 1/12/26

AI for messaging: how small practices can reduce inbox burden

A practical guide to using AI to reduce inbox burden in small practices. Learn how to summarize messages, prevent spirals, and convert complex threads into visits.

The seven AI skills every clinician should know

Seven practical AI micro skills that help clinicians save time, reduce cognitive load, and improve documentation and messaging. These skills are simple enough to use daily in a small practice.

How small practices can use AI without expensive tools or IT support

A practical guide for small practices that want to use AI to save time without buying expensive tools or hiring IT support. Learn simple ways to use AI for documentation, messaging, and daily workflows using tools you already have