In today’s day and age, you can and must leverage the power of AI and data-driven decisions to scale your healthcare practice. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dan Hosler, CEO of Allied OMS, to explore strategic practice growth in today's market.

What You’ll Learn: 

• How to attract investment in today's market by focusing on operational excellence and meaningful integration

• The two-pillar approach to successful practice integration: reducing provider headaches and cutting operational costs

• Why data-driven decision making is transforming oral surgery practices and how to implement daily reporting

• How to effectively implement AI solutions by breaking down business processes into measurable components

• The "Maintenance Marketing" principle for sustainable patient acquisition in oral surgery practices

• How to build successful surgeon recruitment programs through educational engagement and long-term relationship building

• Why establishing multiple banking relationships and exception-based reporting are crucial for multi-location practices

• The strategic approach to opening De Novo practices and executing "Aqua-Novo" acquisitions for practice growth

This conversation offers actionable strategies for navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.

Episode Highlights:
01:34 What Makes Integration Strategy Truly Effective Dan reveals that successful business integration must either relieve provider headaches or reduce operational costs - ideally both. This dual-focus approach helps healthcare organizations avoid implementing changes that don't deliver tangible value. When evaluating potential integrations, leaders should first identify specific pain points for providers and quantifiable cost-saving opportunities. Organizations that apply this strategic filter can better prioritize initiatives and achieve measurable improvements in both provider satisfaction and financial performance.
03:14 Process-Based AI ImplementationBreaking down business operations into discrete processes is essential for successful AI integration in healthcare organizations. Dan emphasizes the importance of identifying specific steps within each process that technology could enhance or automate. Rather than attempting comprehensive AI transformation, focus on measurable improvements in targeted areas like revenue cycle management or patient intake. This methodical approach allows practices to evaluate ROI clearly and scale successful implementations.
08:12 Sustainable Referral Growth StrategyThe key to maintaining strong referral relationships is establishing systematic outreach processes that continue even when practice volumes increase. Dan shares how his company demonstrates this by having dedicated marketing specialists conduct 7-10 referral source visits daily, coordinating educational events, and maintaining consistent communication channels. Many practices make the mistake of reducing outreach efforts when they get busy, disrupting their referral pipeline. Creating a dedicated role for referral management ensures sustainable growth through both busy and slower periods.
13:04 Innovative Recruitment Through EducationDan shares their successful approach to surgeon recruitment through educational residency dinners, focusing on providing genuine value rather than sales pitches. The approach demonstrates how focusing on authentic education and relationship-building yields better recruitment results than traditional promotional efforts. By leading with value and education, organizations can build stronger connections with potential recruits while establishing themselves as trusted partners in career development.

The Dental Economist Show with Mike Huffaker is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so