Practicing Independence
Chapter 1
Foundations of Independent Practice
Define your aim and assess your foundation
90 minutes with your leadership team
Independence is not a status you inherit. It is a set of disciplines you practice. This chapter establishes the aim of your independence and gives you an honest read on the foundation you are building from.
Practices lose independence gradually. Margin thins, decisions get deferred, and one day the only option on the table is the one someone else wrote. The work in this chapter is to name what you are protecting and to measure where you actually stand today.
Key takeaways
- Independence erodes through small compromises, not big decisions
- The four core disciplines create sustainable competitive advantage
- Voice of customer reveals what you're blind to
- Respect for people is the foundation of everything
- Continuous improvement is a discipline, not a destination
Before you start
Work this chapter with the people who actually run the practice: the physician owner, the administrator, and whoever owns the schedule and the revenue cycle.