Thriving Practice with Tracy Cherpeski

Nordic Global Thought Leadership

EHR Efficiency Secrets: Guide to Thriving in the Digital Health Era Featuring Dr. Craig Joseph, EP 140

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Craig Joseph, pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global, as we explore the critical role of intentional design in healthcare technology. In this episode, we dive deep into how thoughtful implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and other digital tools can transform medical practices, improving both provider efficiency and patient care. Dr. Joseph shares insights from his extensive experience in healthcare IT and his book "Designing for Health," offering practical advice on making technology work for healthcare providers rather than against them. From tackling the challenges of "note bloat" to creating more intuitive user interfaces, we discuss innovative strategies to enhance workflows, reduce physician burnout, and ultimately create a more thriving practice.

In this episode, we discuss:

The importance of intentional design in healthcare technology
How to make Electronic Health Records (EHRs) more efficient and user-friendly
The evolution of medical note-taking and the problem of "note bloat"
Strategies for implementing technology changes in medical practices
The balance between automation and human interaction in healthcare
How to approach change management in healthcare settings
The concept of "actionable alerts" in clinical decision support
The impact of patient portal access on medical documentation
Tips for streamlining workflows and improving practice efficiency
The importance of focusing on outcomes rather than processes when implementing new technologies

Key Takeaways:

Intentionality is crucial when designing or implementing healthcare technology
Good design can significantly reduce physician burnout and improve patient care
Consider the end goal before reconfiguring existing processes into new technology
Involve all stakeholders, including non-physician staff, in technology implementation decisions
Balance automation with maintaining valuable human interactions in healthcare

Thank you for listening to Thriving Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast.

Bio: Craig Joseph, MD serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Nordic Consulting Partners. He is a board-certified pediatrician and clinical informatician. Craig practiced primary care pediatrics for nine years before moving to Madison, WI to work for Epic. After seven years there, he served as Chief Medical Information Officer for several hospital systems using both Epic and Cerner electronic health records. At Nordic, Dr. Joseph works with hospitals and healthcare systems to help them improve clinician happiness and efficiency. He’s recently co-authored a book about applying the principles of human-centered design to healthcare.

Find Dr. Craig Joseph:

Website

Book

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Metrics for Work-Life Harmony in Healthcare Practices, EP 139

Episode Summary

In this episode, our host Tracy Cherpeski, business consultant and executive coach, explores how implementing the right business operations and metrics can lead to work-life harmony for healthcare practice owners. Tracy shares insights from her years of experience working with healthcare professionals, demonstrating how mastering key performance indicators can drive practice growth while also paving the way for a more balanced, fulfilling career.

Key Points Discussed

- The importance of metrics in healthcare practice management

- Four crucial areas of metrics: Patient Engagement, Marketing and Lead Generation, Operational Efficiency, and Financial Performance

- Specific metrics within each area and how they contribute to practice success and work-life balance

- Strategies for leveraging metrics to achieve work-life harmony

The Power of Metrics

Tracy explains why measurement matters in healthcare practice management:

- Provides an objective view of practice performance

- Allows for identification of trends and patterns

- Informs resource allocation and strategic decisions

- Improves patient satisfaction and retention

- Optimizes marketing efforts

- Enhances operational efficiency

- Drives sustainable growth while maintaining work-life balance

Essential Metrics for Practice Growth and Work-Life Harmony

Patient Engagement Metrics

New Appointments
Patient Wait Time
Patient Satisfaction Rates

Marketing and Lead Generation Metrics

Website Visitor to Converted Leads Rate
Cost per Lead
Social Media Mentions

Operational Efficiency Metrics

Patient Lifetime Value
First Call Resolution Rate
Staff Turnover Rate

Financial Performance Metrics

Cost per New Patient
Revenue per Patient

Leveraging Metrics for Work-Life Harmony

Tracy shares strategies for using these metrics to achieve better work-life balance:

Identifying inefficiencies
Delegating with confidence
Making data-driven decisions
Prioritizing efforts
Justifying time off
Improving financial health
Celebrating successes

Notable Quotes

- "You can't improve what you don't measure."

- "The goal isn't just to grow your practice, but to do so in a way that aligns with your values and supports your well-being."

About Tracy Cherpeski

Tracy Cherpeski is a business consultant and executive coach specializing in helping healthcare providers optimize their practices and their lives. With 15 years of experience working with healthcare professionals, Tracy has developed strategies to help practice owners achieve extraordinary success without sacrificing their well-being.

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Boost Outcomes, Cut Burnout: How Health Coaching Can Transform Your Medical Practice Featuring Sandra Scheinbaum, EP 138

In this episode, we dive into the world of health coaching with Sandra Sheinbaum, founder of the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. We explore how health coaching can transform patient care and revolutionize healthcare practices.

Key Points:

Sandra's journey from education to psychology to founding a health coaching academy
The role of health coaches in improving patient compliance and outcomes
How health coaching can break down overwhelming lifestyle changes into manageable steps
The impact of health coaching on reducing provider burnout and stress
Health coaching as a communication bridge between patients and healthcare practices
The business case for integrating health coaching into medical practices
Health coaching as a potential career path for healthcare professionals

Notable Quotes:

"When you feel heard, healing is already started." - Sandra Sheinbaum

"Health coaches are the specialists in helping you to change." - Sandra Sheinbaum

"We know that when a practice has a health coach, the stress load on the doctor plummets." - Sandra Sheinbaum

Resources Mentioned:

- Functional Medicine Coaching Academy: functionalmedicinecoaching.org

- Free resources: fmcafreebook.com

Sandra’s Bio:

With over eight years of experience as the Founder and CEO of the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA), Sandra is dedicated to training people all over the world to become Functional Medicine health coaches and empowering them to support patients and practitioners in combating chronic lifestyle-related diseases and reducing healthcare costs. As a board-certified Functional Medicine practitioner, Sandra has a deep understanding of the science and art of personalized, holistic, and root-cause-based healthcare.

As an educator and licensed clinical psychologist for over 40 years, she has also developed an innovative model that blends Functional Medicine principles with positive psychology, mind-body medicine, and the psychology of eating. Sandra is the author of several books on health coaching, Functional Medicine, and anxiety management, as well as a frequent podcast guest and contributor to Forbes. Through FMCA, a collaboration with The Institute for Functional Medicine and a fully-approved program by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching, she is proud to be a recognized leader in the field of health coaching education and to serve a global population of aspiring and practicing coaches.

Find Sandra:

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Beyond Insurance: Balancing Operations and Life for Healthcare Practice Success, EP 137

Episode Overview

In this episode of Thriving Practice, host Tracy Cherpeski explores why focusing on your practice's operations is more crucial than obsessing over insurance issues. Learn how to create work-life harmony and optimize your healthcare practice for true success.

Key Topics Covered

- The impact of insurance challenges on healthcare practices

- Why operational excellence trumps insurance concerns

- The concept of work-life harmony vs. work-life balance

- Practical tips for optimizing your practice operations

The Insurance Cloud

- Acknowledgment of insurance challenges in healthcare practices

- Why focusing solely on insurance isn't the answer

The Power of Operations

- How solid operations can make or break your practice

- Real-world example of a practice owner who improved profitability by focusing on operations

Work-Life Harmony

- Explanation of why we prefer "work-life harmony" over "work-life balance"

- The misleading nature of the balance metaphor

- How harmony allows for different aspects of life to take prominence at different times

Practical Tips for Operational Excellence

Compose Your Symphony

- Plan your day with intention

- Example: Dr. Sarah's weekly schedule optimization

Conduct with Precision

- Use time blocking techniques

Tune Your Instruments

- Look for inefficiencies in daily operations

- Examples: Automating appointment reminders, simplifying check-in processes

Empower Your Musicians

- Delegate tasks effectively

- Invest in team training

Focus on the Audience Experience

- Prioritize smooth, efficient patient journeys

Embrace Continuous Learning

- Utilize resources from the Thriving Practice Community:

- Monthly Masterclasses

- Peer Learning Circles

- Resource Library

- Expert Q&A Sessions

- Annual Retreat

- Access through the Mighty Networks platform

Create Work-Life Harmony

- Allow different aspects of life to take the lead at different times

- Aim for a fulfilling composition over time

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC, is a Business Consultant and Executive Coach with over 20 years of experience. Tracy is the go-to expert for private practice owners and their teams, teaching them how to optimize their time and scale their practices without sacrifice. She helps her clients take back their time and energy to start living a fulfilled life as a high-impact provider and CEO. Tracy is host and executive producer of Thriving Practice podcast, and works with healthcare practice owners around the world.

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Beyond Gray Walls: Transforming Your Healthcare Space to Attract and Retain Ideal Patients Featuring Carolyn Boldt, EP 136

In this episode, we explore the critical role of intentional design in healthcare practices, especially for complementary and alternative providers. Our guest, Carolyn, shares insights on creating spaces that enhance patient experience, support operational efficiency, and ultimately contribute to practice success.

Key Points:

The importance of aligning your physical space with your brand and target demographic
How design can make or break a practice's profitability
Blending healthcare, retail, and hospitality design principles for optimal results
The benefits of starting the design process before choosing a location
Creating spaces that attract and retain ideal patients

Notable Quotes:

"Your space is either gonna help make them money or is going to lose them money." - Carolyn

"It doesn't have to be expensive. It just needs to be intentional." - Carolyn

Takeaways:

Intentional design is crucial for practice success, impacting both patient experience and operational efficiency.
Consider your ideal patient when designing your space to create an environment that resonates with them.
Starting the design process early can save time, money, and prevent potential issues down the line.

Resources Mentioned:

5 Point Designer Checklist (click here: free resource for listeners)

Carolyn’s Bio:

Carolyn is personally passionate about holistic health and wellness, and an outspoken advocate that the environment of your space impacts your success.

With over 40 years of experience in the commercial interior industry, she holds a BS in Interior Architectural Design from University of Texas at Austin, is NCIDQ Certified, a Registered Designer, a LEED AP, and Professional Member of IIDA/International Interior Design Association.

In 2004, she and her husband, Scott, co-founded CrossFields as a design-build firm in Atlanta. In 2011 they changed their focus to expand the impact of holistic health by elevating the public’s image of alternative medicine through virtually creating outstanding healing environments nationwide.

Find Carolyn:

Connect With Us:

- Thriving Practice Community:

Entrepreneurial Thinking in Healthcare: Strategies for Success, EP 135

In this episode of Thriving Practice, Tracy explores how healthcare providers can adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to revolutionize their approach to healthcare and business, achieving success without burnout.

Episode Summary

Host Tracy Cherpeski discusses the challenges faced by healthcare provider-owners in today's evolving landscape and introduces the concept of entrepreneurial thinking as a solution. She covers key entrepreneurial attributes and provides strategies for developing this mindset in the healthcare sector.

Key Points

Definition of entrepreneurship and its relevance to healthcare providers
Overcoming overthinking: Types and strategies
Key entrepreneurial attributes for healthcare providers:

- Disruption of Norms

- Resilience and Persistence

- Embracing Uncertainty and Risk

- Growth Mindset

- Self-Awareness and Focus

Strategies for developing an entrepreneurial mindset
Balancing innovation with patient care

Challenges for Listeners

Identify an area of practice improvement and brainstorm innovative solutions
Schedule daily "worry time" to address concerns and combat overthinking
Reach out to a fellow healthcare provider-owner or potential mentor for perspective

Resources Mentioned

- Book reference: "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey

- Concept: Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset

Expert Mentioned

- Barbara Corcoran (Shark Tank judge and entrepreneur)

Quotable Moments

"As a healthcare provider, you're already doing incredible work. You've dedicated your life to helping others, and you've built a practice that makes a real difference."

"If you have an idea that you think is great, sit and write it down. You gotta grab it the minute you have it. Pin it down to your desk with a nail, and then figure it out." - Barbara Corcoran

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Navigating Medicare Choices: A Guide for Healthcare Providers and Small Business Owners Featuring Marvin Musick EP 134

In this informative episode of Thriving Practice, host Tracy Cherpeski interviews Marvin Musick, a Medicare education expert, to demystify the complexities of Medicare for practice owners and patients alike. Marvin shares valuable insights on making informed decisions about Medicare options, the importance of supplemental plans, and how these choices impact both healthcare providers and patients.

Key Points:

Understanding Medicare options: Original Medicare with supplemental plans vs. Medicare Advantage plans
The importance of educating yourself about Medicare before making decisions
How Medicare choices affect healthcare providers and their practices
Considerations for small business owners regarding employee health coverage
The benefits of Medicare supplemental plans for both patients and providers
The impact of high-income earners on Medicare premiums
The portability and nationwide coverage of Medicare supplemental plans
The importance of timing when enrolling in Medicare
Resources for Medicare education, including Marvin's Medicare School

Notable Quotes:

"Don't make any decisions until you really understand what you're doing because your choice is gonna have consequences." - Marvin Musick

"We're not trying to sell something. Although we write plans, that's how we make our living. But the platform is all about understanding." - Marvin Musick on Medicare School

Resources Mentioned:

- Medicare School YouTube channel: medicareschool.com

- Medicare Mondays on Facebook Live

- Thriving Practice Community: thrivingpracticecommunity.com

Marvin’s Bio:

MARVIN MUSICK and his son, Joshua, co-founded MedicareSchool.com

in 2009. Their mission: to offer unbiased and education-centric services

to those approaching Medicare enrollment. As a nationally sought-after

speaker and expert in Medicare, Marvin has empowered over 100,000

individuals by providing clear guidance and facilitating enrollment in the

most suitable Medicare plans.

Witnessing numerous people grappling with conflicting advice and

overwhelmed by information overload on Medicare, Marvin is committed

to an education-first approach. He strives to demystify the complexities,

ensuring clients comprehend their options without any pressure to purchase.

Through MedicareSchool.com, Marvin and his team of licensed Medicare

guides aim to liberate individuals from the confusion surrounding Medicare,

empowering them with knowledge and guidance for a worry-free retirement

through optimal Medicare plans.

Find Marvin:

Twitter @marvin_musick

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The Hidden Costs of Parenthood: Breastfeeding, Childcare, and Healthcare in America EP 133

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the challenges facing American families today, going beyond breastfeeding to explore the critical need for comprehensive family support policies in the United States. We examine the benefits of breastfeeding, but also address the systemic barriers that prevent many parents from making this choice.

Key Topics Covered:

The benefits and challenges of breastfeeding
The stark reality of paid parental leave in the US compared to other countries
The rising costs of childcare and its impact on families
The staggering healthcare expenses for American families
How companies like IKEA are stepping up to support their employees
The urgent need for policy changes to support families

Key Statistics:

- Only 55.8% of infants are still breastfed at 6 months

- The US is the only wealthy nation without nationwide paid parental leave

- Average annual cost of childcare: $13,000 per family

- Average health insurance cost for a family of four: $23,968 per year

- Healthcare premiums have increased by 22% over the past five years

Featured Example:

We highlight IKEA's recent efforts to support their workforce, including wage increases, improved parental leave benefits, flexible work arrangements, and innovative retention strategies.

Call to Action:

We encourage listeners to advocate for family-friendly policies, support businesses that prioritize employee well-being, and stay informed about proposed legislation that could impact families.

Resources Mentioned:

- American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding recommendations

- UNICEF report on child-care policies in wealthy nations

- Center for American Progress research on childcare costs

- Kaiser Family Foundation data on healthcare costs

Join us as we explore how investing in families through paid leave, affordable childcare, and healthcare reform can transform America and create a more supportive environment for all families.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski is a Business Consultant and Executive Coach. She supports her clients in taking back their time ad scaling this practices without sacrificing their well-being. Tracy’s consulting and coaching programs help her clients master strategic planning, leadership and mindset. She believes in people’s unlimited potential and loves celebrating the success of her clients and their teams.

Tracy founded Tracy Cherpeski International in 2011 and Thriving Practice Community in 2024, and serves clients all over the world. She is the host and Executive Producer of the Thriving Practice podcast.

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