The first crucial step is knowing how your next patient is going to find you - without a consistently nurtured source of patients, practices can't survive - let alone thrive.

Getting patients on the schedule FAST and committed is crucial. Technology must always support the team that's trying to get patients into your office and keep your schedule full.

From intake paperwork, updated complaints, insurance coverage, and more - it's imperative that technology keeps the process smooth for both patients and staff so delays are minimized.

Staff must be able to quickly update patient vitals and history from initial to follow up appointments so that clinicians are not left waiting or questioning updates on patient care cycles.

One of the biggest complaints in healthcare today is the time clinicians spend in EHRs and on computers in general versus patients. The amount of time spent engaged with the patient must always be allowed to be more than on the computer.

Coding and billing processes should be very clear to everyone involved and the software must automate as much as possible, including the discovery of mistakes that are inevitably made due to human error. Preempting mistakes and billing daily ensures FAST payment so that practices are never worried about cash flow.

Check Out should always be automated when possible, follow up appointments scheduled quickly and efficiently. Ideally, patients should never have to open their wallet or purse after the first visit to the practice.