A practice manager writes in to ask Andrea and Alli for help with her front desk who is wonderful with patients but struggles to keep calls brief, resulting in lost opportunities in the form of missed calls and lowered productivity. 

Warmth is essential, but if calls run long, you risk missed opportunities and dropped balls elsewhere. Andrea and Alli talk about the fine balance between building rapport and staying efficient, especially at the front desk. 

Hear why training and self-awareness are so important, and learn the best way to help team members recognize their own habits and spot areas for improvement without judgment.

Listen to our previous episode with Alli, Fake it Till You Make It? Mastering the Mindset of the Front Desk

GUEST

Allison Petriella
Plastic Surgery | MedSpa Consultant & Sales Expert

Alli is a results-driven SAAS sales professional and consultant with 12+ years of experience helping healthcare and aesthetics practices grow through technology, strategy, and process optimization. She specializes in guiding practices to overcome operational challenges and maximize growth by leveraging cutting-edge software solutions.

Connect with Alli on LinkedIn

SHE DID WHAT?
Got a wild customer service story or a sticky patient situation to share? If your tale makes it into our "She did what?" segment, we'll send a thank you gift you'll actually love. Promise, no cheap swag here. Send us a message or voicemail at practicelandpodcast.com.

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HOSTS

Blake Lucas, Senior Director of Customer Experience at PatientFi

Blake oversees a dedicated team responsible for managing patient and provider inquiries, troubleshooting technical issues, and handling any unexpected challenges that come their way. With a strong focus on delivering exceptional service, he ensures that both patients and providers receive the support they need for a seamless experience.

Learn more about PatientFi

Andrea Watkins, VP of Practice Growth at Studio III Marketing

Andrea Watkins, Vice President of Practice Growth at Studio 3, coaches plastic surgery and aesthetics teams on patient acquisition, lead management, and practice efficiency to drive measurable growth. Formerly COO of a multi-million-dollar practice that nearly tripled revenue under her leadership, she now partners with over 100 practices nationwide—helping them capture and analyze data, streamline consultations and booking, and align staff training with business goals. With a directive yet approachable, non-salesy style, Andrea turns data into action, empowering practices to boost conversions, maximize marketing, and elevate the patient experience in a competitive market.

Learn more about Studio III Marketing and LeadLoop CRM for plastic surgery practices and medical spas. 

Co-hosts: Andrea Watkins & Blake Lucas
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Ian Powell
Theme music: Full Time Job, Mindme
Cover Art: Dan Childs

Practiceland is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io