High-Performing Dermatology Practice Shares Key to Success

What’s the key to success for new practices starting out in this competitive healthcare market? According to Westgate Skin & Cancer: efficiency.

Dr. Blakely Richardson had experienced solo offices, the government-run VA hospital system and training at University Hospitals Case Western Reserve. She found that she was happiest in private practice. After two years of research and planning, she opened Westgate Skin & Cancer, a medical and cosmetic dermatology clinic in Austin, TX.

Like many dermatology practices, they focus on general skin care, skin diseases and skin cancers for patients of all ages. Unlike many of their competitors, this one-provider practice embraced technology and operational efficiency. Daniel Soteldo, practice manager at Westgate Skin & Cancer, knew he wanted to be as efficient as possible from the start.

“We are in a very competitive market,” he explains. “Because of that we needed to find and establish differentiators right from the beginning. Patients in the Austin area are savvy, well-informed and have high expectations of service.”

The priority was to be as efficient and flexible as possible in order to gain a competitive edge. This would lay the foundation for rapid growth, excellent patient care and most importantly, high patient satisfaction.

Their high-efficiency strategy included using Kareo’s integrated software platform to streamline their practice marketing, patient care and billing processes.

“Automation of the basics frees you to focus on the stuff that makes you more competitive,” Soteldo adds. “If I can come up with a way to automate a workflow to improve cost efficiency while simultaneously maximizing patient care, I’ll roll it out pretty quickly.”

As a result, he says that in terms of practice marketing, online presence, positive reviews and growth, they are ahead of competitors who have been in business for over 10 years.

Read the whole success story and see how this private practice keeps their A/R under 30 days, books nearly one-third of their appointments online, and always shows up on the first page of search results.