Permission to Be New: Build in Public Without Apology
If you’re early in private practice, you might be under pressure to look polished from day one. Clean website. Perfect workflows. No questions asked. That pressure doesn’t make you better. It makes you rigid and exhausted.
New does not mean unqualified. It means you’re collecting data in real time. It means you’re willing to iterate so care gets better, faster.
Here’s a simple way to practice that: choose one part of your practice and run it in beta for 30 days. Label it clearly, invite feedback, and adjust once a week. You’ll learn faster than you would hiding behind “perfect.”
Pick one process to run “in beta”
Choose a small, high-impact area you touch often:
Consult call flow (6-minute structure, questions, close)
After-visit summaries (what you include, timeline)
Refill request path (form fields, batching times)
Reminder cadence (72/24/2 hours, reschedule link)
Intake packet (length, readability, card-on-file language)
Start with the one that creates the most friction in your week.
Label it out loud
Tell people what you’re doing. This sets expectations and earns grace.
Website blurb: “Our consult process is in beta this month. You’ll see a short survey afterward so we can improve quickly.”
Portal message: “We’re piloting a new refill form through the portal. It should reduce back-and-forth and speed up approvals.”
Visit script: “I’m testing a shorter summary to get key steps to you the same day. Tell me what you miss or what helps.”
Transparency builds trust. Patients appreciate knowing you’re refining with their experience in mind.
Ask for specific feedback
Open-ended “What do you think?” invites vague answers. Use pointed prompts:
“What felt unclear?”
“Where did you get stuck?”
“What would you change to make this faster for you?”
“Was anything missing that you expected?”
Keep it short: three questions, max. Add a 1-minute Form or a Yes/No inside the portal. Thank people who respond.
Review weekly, not endlessly
Set a 20-minute Friday check-in:
Read feedback.
Identify one friction point.
Make one change.
Post the new version and date-stamp it (“v1.2, effective Friday”).
Iteration beats overhaul. Small, steady improvements protect your energy while raising quality.
Document the win
Create a simple “beta log” in your EHR admin notes or a one-page doc:
What we tested: “Consult call v1.1”
What we heard: “Too rushed to discuss rates”
What we changed: “Added a 20-second rate script and two booking options”
Result next week: “Consult-to-eval conversion from 54% to 68%”
Seeing measurable movement builds evidence-based confidence. That’s the kind that lasts.
Scripts you can copy
Consult “in beta” intro:
“Thanks for booking a consult. I’m piloting a shorter format so you get clarity fast. I’ll ask a few focused questions, share how I work, and we’ll decide next steps together. After the call, you’ll see a quick feedback link.”
Refill “in beta” rollout:
“We’re testing a new portal refill form to reduce delays. Refills are processed during business hours within two days. If anything is unclear on the form, reply here and we’ll adjust the wording.”
Feedback ask (post-visit):
“Quick favor: Was today’s after-visit summary clear and useful?
Yes / Mostly / Not really
If ‘not really,’ what was missing in one sentence?”
What this gives you
Faster learning loops and fewer assumptions
A practice that improves without burning you out
Real-world proof that patients value clarity over polish
Give yourself permission to be new. Not sloppy; transparent and iterative. Add “in beta” to one process for 30 days, ask for feedback, and let the data guide your next version.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to start, join us inside Strong Roots Mentorship. We take you step by step from ground zero to seeing patients and beyond, without the overwhelm.