BLOG

Healthcare is no longer defined by the hospital campus. According to Deloitte, care is increasingly shifting to “alternative sites of care,” including physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, retail clinics, urgent care, virtual platforms, and even patients’ homes. This evolution is being driven by technology, cost pressures, workforce challenges, and patient demand for more convenient and accessible care. While large health systems are now investing heavily in these models, independent practices have long operated in these environments. As care continues to decentralize, this shift creates meaningful opportunities for physician-led, community-based care. Patients Want Care That Fits Their Lives One of the biggest drivers of alternative sites of care is consumer preference. Patients want care that is easier to access, closer to home, and delivered with minimal disruption to their daily lives. Long hospital visits, complicated scheduling, and fragmented care are increasingly out of step with expectations. Alternative sites of care offer: Independent practices are often best positioned to deliver these advantages. Many already provide accessible, relationship-based care that aligns with what patients are seeking. Lower-Cost Care Creates Opportunity for Independent Physicians Payers and employers are pushing for care to move into lower-cost settings when clinically appropriate. Alternative sites of care often reduce facility fees, decrease unnecessary utilization, and improve care efficiency. Independent practices naturally fit this model. Physician offices, independent ambulatory centers, and community-based clinics frequently deliver high-quality care at a lower total cost. This shift creates opportunity for independent practices to: These services strengthen independent practices as central hubs of care. Independent

Dr. Waring’s opinion piece regarding the non-compete bill appeared in the Post & Courier

Healthcare delivery is moving beyond the traditional hospital setting. According to Deloitte, inpatient services are declining as a share of overall health system revenue, while outpatient, home-based, and virtual care continue to expand. This shift is being driven by advances in clinical technology, payer pressure to use lower-cost settings, and growing consumer preference for convenience and accessibility. While much of this conversation is framed around health systems adapting to change, the reality is that independent practices are already aligned with this model. In many ways, the future of care delivery looks a lot like the care independent physicians have been providing all along. Independent Practices Are Built for This Moment Independent physicians have always focused on accessible, community-based care. As more services move out of hospitals, patients are increasingly seeking care in physician offices, outpatient centers, and through virtual visits. These are environments where independent practices excel. This shift allows independent practices to: Because independent practices are often more nimble than large systems, they can adopt these models quickly and tailor them to their patient populations. Lower-Cost Settings Align with Independent Medicine Payers are encouraging care to move to lower-cost settings whenever clinically appropriate. Independent practices are naturally positioned to meet this demand. Care delivered in physician offices and ambulatory settings often reduces overall healthcare costs while maintaining high quality and continuity. This creates an opportunity for independent physicians to demonstrate value. By keeping patients out of unnecessary hospital admissions and managing conditions proactively, independent practices can play a central role in

Recently, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed H.4767, a bill that would prohibit non-compete clauses in physician contracts and protect the doctor-patient relationship. The vote followed a hard-fought debate, ultimately passing by narrow margins before advancing to the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. For many physicians, this may sound like a policy update. But for those currently employed, this legislation could represent something much more meaningful: flexibility, opportunity, and the ability to choose what is best for your patients and your career. Non-compete clauses have long limited physician mobility. They can restrict where you practice, prevent you from caring for established patients, and make it difficult to explore new opportunities, even when those opportunities would improve access and continuity of care. These restrictions often impact not just physicians, but the communities they serve. If passed, this legislation would help remove those barriers. Physicians would have greater freedom to remain in their communities, continue caring for their patients, and explore new practice models without being limited by geographic or contractual constraints. This shift could also encourage more innovation. When physicians have the flexibility to consider independent practice, partnerships, or new care models, it expands what is possible. Across the state, we are already seeing growing interest in physician-led care, collaborative independent networks, and community-based access models. Removing non-competes could accelerate that momentum. For employed physicians, this is an important moment to follow closely. Even if you are not currently considering a change, this legislation speaks to professional autonomy and

IndeDocs continues to grow, and with that growth comes stronger physician leadership. We are proud to welcome three new board members who bring diverse experience, innovation, and a shared commitment to independent medicine: Dr. Fiona Rahbar, Dr. Ted Swann, and Dr. Laura Lee Kinney. Dr. Rahbar brings expertise in dermatology, integrative medicine, and service to underserved populations, along with leadership as co-founder of an independent practice. Dr. Swann offers a strong background in family medicine and innovation, including his leadership during the pandemic through development of a widely utilized SARS-CoV-2 testing program. Dr. Kinney contributes decades of experience in internal medicine and a long-standing commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care in Charleston. Together, these physicians represent the strength and diversity of independent medicine across South Carolina. Their perspectives will help guide IndeDocs as we continue to support physician autonomy, expand access to care, and strengthen independent practices. Welcoming new leaders is more than growth for the organization. It is a reflection of the continued momentum behind independent medicine and the physicians committed to preserving it. If you’d like to learn more about IndeDocs and how to join our membership, please visit our website at IndeDocs.com/Membership.

If you feel like you spend more time on forms and phone calls than actually seeing patients, you’re not alone. In fact, physicians spend almost 2 hours on admin work for every hour of face-to-face patient time, according to the AMA. But here’s the good news: today’s automation tools can take a huge chunk of that admin burden off your plate, freeing up your schedule and helping you get home on time.  Let’s break down the tools every independent practice in South Carolina should consider: Online Scheduling & Automated Reminders Tools like Solutionreach, NexHealth, or Luma Health enable patients to book appointments online (even at 2 a.m.) and receive automatic text or email reminders. Fun fact: Practices using automated scheduling see no-show rates drop by up to 40% Common Sense Systems. Automated Billing & Insurance Checks Nothing stalls cash flow like billing mistakes or slow insurance verification. Platforms like Tebra, AdvancedMD, and DrChrono can automate processes such as: Did you know? Automated billing can shrink reimbursement times by up to 30% Thoughtful AI. Digital Intake Forms Instead of handing patients a clipboard, tools like Phreesia and IntakeQ let them fill out forms on their phone or tablet ahead of time. Source: Digital intake tools have been shown to reduce check-in times by 50% while improving accuracy [Emitrr]. Voice Dictation & Virtual Scribes Do you hate spending hours after work finishing charts? Tools like Dragon Medical One, DeepScribe, or Augmedix allow you to dictate notes or hire a virtual scribe to

Running your own medical practice comes with the freedom to chart your own course, but it also means riding out the ups and downs of patient volume. Whether it’s summer vacations, back-to-school schedules, or the post-holiday slump, seasonal fluctuations in patient visits can wreak havoc on your cash flow if you’re not prepared. The good news? With a few proactive steps, you can stabilize your income, protect your staff, and keep your practice thriving year-round.  Here’s how to do it: Know Your Seasonal Patterns Before you can manage seasonal swings, you need to understand them. Review your billing data from the past 2–3 years to spot predictable slow periods, like summer months when families travel, or December holidays when many patients postpone visits. Proactively Fill Gaps with Preventive and Follow-Up Visits Once you know when patient volume is likely to dip, schedule follow-up appointments, wellness visits, or chronic care check-ins during those slow periods. Build a Cash Reserve A key lesson from successful independent practices is maintaining at least 2–3 months of operating expenses in cash reserves. This cushion allows you to cover payroll, rent, and vendor bills during lean months without taking on debt. Optimize Billing & Collections Slow periods feel even worse when insurance payments lag. Speed up collections with: Market During Slow Seasons Don’t go quiet just because your waiting room isn’t full. Use slow months to boost brand awareness and attract new patients: Adjust Staffing Strategically Consider cross-training your team so you don’t have to lay off or reduce