Hiring an associate is supposed to make your life easier. So why does it sometimes do the opposite?
You picture more production, fewer clinical days, and more freedom. Instead, you're struggling to fill their schedule, your production takes a hit, and now you're managing another doctor's expectations.
Adding another doctor doesn't automatically create more freedom. Your practice has to be ready for one.
Before you hire, consider three things:
- Make sure you have the demand.
Do you have enough patients, operatories, and treatment opportunities to support another doctor without sacrificing your own production? - Have the uncomfortable conversations early.
Who sees which patients? How is treatment distributed? How much autonomy will they have? Set expectations before problems arise. - Give them a reason to stay.
Good associates want more than a paycheck. They want control over their career and a future worth staying for. That may eventually include ownership.
An associate can be one of the best decisions you make. But hiring another doctor isn't the same as building a practice that can support one. Make sure you're ready before taking that step.
P.S. The right associate can mean more profit, more freedom, and less stress. If you're thinking about hiring or want to make an existing associateship more successful, book a strategy call with me. Let's figure out how to make it work for you.
