IN THIS EPISODE • How to grow responsibly: start with your own data, test demand before you build, then execute small • Why ancillary services you already refer out are often the easiest growth to add • The front desk checks that protect revenue before the visit • Why billing teams and the front desk need shared accountability, not separate blame • How a 60-provider group is using AI today, and why Alex only buys AI that fixes a specific, measurable bottleneck • Why you should fix your P&L and know your KPIs before adding complexity • Grow from your strengths, not to escape a weakness THE FRONT DESK CHECKS ALEX'S TEAM RELIES ON • Verify eligibility 48 to 72 hours before the visit • Scan the insurance card into the EHR so everyone can find it • Confirm prior authorization, not just eligibility, especially for imaging, injections and surgery • Collect everything owed at checkout, not just the copay at check-in • Re-verify demographics for established patients every visit HOW ALEX EVALUATES AI • Imaging access: faster MRI scans mean more add-on patients without overbooking • Phone answering: AI answers and books calls, with live operators one button away • Training: policies, procedures and onboarding in one living playbook instead of a binder that is outdated the day it is printed "Don't implement AI into a broken system. It will just break it faster." THREE STEPS BEFORE YOU ADD A LOCATION OR SERVICE LINE 1. Look at your data: referral and zip code reports show where you send business out 2. Test the demand: sublease space from a non-competitor before you build 3. Execute small, and scale only once the test proves the need