As our first entry as cyber-publishers, content runs long – fair warning. Whether you subscribe or just check in occasionally, we (Barbara Derry and Crystal Nolan) hope you gain compelling insight and tips about the “healthcare delivery business” that our medical practice consulting firm supports. That, after all, is our business.

But the other side to this blog is about being true to yourself, taking risks, venturing into the unknown – all the “big gulp” things we did to leap into medical practice consulting from secure, well-paying yet personally frustrating positions as healthcare administrators. We’ll share successes and setbacks, anecdotes and opinions – all aimed at helping current and potential medical practice clients, as well as budding entrepreneurs!

The Path To Medical Practice Consulting

We began as employees of a large Pacific Northwest integrated healthcare system. We met ten years ago, ultimately collaborating on the opening of a 24,000sf medical office building and ambulatory surgery center (brought in on-time and under budget, btw). But we were disillusioned with corporate red tape and inflexibility, and eventually took a deep breath and jumped ship, forming Derry, Nolan & Associates, LLC.

Our first day as medical practice consultants coincided with the day President Bush announced the war on Iraq – not the most auspicious of beginnings. Despite that alarming herald, we were convinced that healthcare consulting, specifically for medical practices, would benefit from our experience in cost reduction, reimbursement and workplace efficiency improvement.

Personal Goals & Professional Growth

Our goals remain consistent: personally, to earn good income while gaining creative outlets missing in corporate structure, and professionally, to help healthcare related businesses and medical practices thrive. Sure, there are risks. Strangely enough, personal health issues catapulted us into business ownership and taking the associated financial risks. Our overcoming scary, and in Crystal’s case, life threatening, health events strengthened us in the face of adversity.

Nearly seven years later, we have no regrets. In fact, two-year income goals were met the first year! Today, we boast a client list that extends from major integrated healthcare systems with thousands of employees, to ambulatory surgery centers and rural health clinics with one provider and a handful of dedicated staff.

Our Hope for Healthcare

We’re optimistic about looming healthcare reform, hopeful for a time of less fragmented medicine (thanks to technology), of medical practices and healthcare systems that run more efficiently thanks to eliminating waste, when Gold Standard customer (patient) service is the norm, and when all citizens receive quality healthcare.

In our blog, we want to make you smile, think, discuss and laugh outright. Above all, we want you to know that all things are possible and never to settle for less than your full potential. We’ll share snippets – healthcare related and otherwise – enjoy and join us on our journey!