5 Ways to Improve Your Medical Practice Before Year-End

You Have 60 Days. Make Them Count.

Before we rush into the final two months of 2026, I want you to do something that may not be on your to-do list.

Celebrate what you’ve accomplished.

Maybe your collections have improved, your patient reviews are stronger, or your team is communicating better. Perhaps you’ve filled a difficult position, improved a frustrating process, or simply made it through a challenging year.

Those are wins worth recognizing.

I believe a five-star practice is built on three pillars: Patients. People. Profits. And chances are, you’ve made progress in at least one of those areas this year.

Take a moment to acknowledge it. Better yet, celebrate it with your team.

Then, let’s look at what you can accomplish with the time we have left.

1. Celebrate Your Wins

At your next staff meeting, ask your team three questions:

• What are we doing better today than we were in January?
• What challenge did we overcome together?
• Who deserves recognition for making a difference?

You may be surprised by what your team remembers. Sometimes the smallest improvements make the biggest difference in someone’s day.

Your Monday action: Recognize at least one accomplishment and thank the people who made it happen.

2. Find the Money You’ve Already Earned

Take a close look at your accounts receivable, particularly balances over 60 and 90 days. Unresolved claims and outstanding patient balances deserve attention before year-end.

Your Monday action: Identify 10 accounts that need follow-up, assign responsibility, and establish a deadline for the next action.

3. Make Every Appointment Count

Many patients have met their annual deductibles and may want to complete recommended care before their benefits reset in January.

Review your schedule for openings, overdue follow-ups, and treatment recommendations that haven’t been scheduled. Pay special attention to procedures, authorizations, and custom products that require additional lead time. Remember to verify benefits and communicate financial expectations clearly.

Your Monday action: Review the next two weeks of appointments and identify opportunities to help patients complete recommended care.

4. Focus Your Team on What Matters

Last week, we talked about running a five-star staff meeting. Now let’s put that lesson to work.

Choose three priorities that would make the greatest difference before December 31. Make sure everyone understands the goals, who owns each one, and how you’ll measure success.

Your Monday action: Establish your three year-end priorities and assign an owner to each.

5. Give Your Future Self a Head Start

January will be here before we know it. Review your 2027 provider schedules, appointment templates, holiday coverage, insurance verification procedures, and administrative time blocks.

Think about one recurring problem that frustrated your team this year. What would it take to resolve it before January?

Your Monday action: Choose one process to improve and set a completion date.