The Happy Practice

If your healthcare practice is spending more on marketing but still struggling to grow, the problem may not be a lack of leads.In this episode of The Happy Practice Podcast, Adam Sierra sits down with Natalie House, VP of Marketing at Weave, to unpack why your marketing isn’t working—and how to figure out what actually needs fixing before you spend another dollar.Natalie explains why effective healthcare marketing starts with understanding your patients and mapping the entire patient journey. They discuss how to identify leaks between leads, booked appointments, completed visits, and treatment; how patient experience drives retention, referrals, and reviews; and which metrics can help practices connect marketing activity to real business results.They also dig into brand consistency for multi-location practices, whether every practice really needs TikTok, how to use AI without losing your human voice, and why last-click attribution rarely tells the full story.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to diagnose why your healthcare marketing isn’t performingWhy more leads aren’t always the answerHow to improve conversion across the patient journeyWhich marketing metrics connect to appointments and revenueHow patient experience supports retention and referralsHow multi-location practices can balance brand consistency with local relevanceWhere AI fits into patient education and marketingWhy last-click attribution misses much of the customer journeyHow to identify and market to your highest-value patientsIf your practice is ready to move beyond random acts of marketing and build a more intentional growth strategy, this episode is a practical place to start.The Happy Practice Podcast from Weave features conversations with the people helping healthcare practices create better experiences for everyone.

How can healthcare organizations use AI at scale without losing the human connection that makes great care possible?Dr. Hendrik Lai joins Adam Sierra to break down where AI actually stands in healthcare today, why data quality matters, and how larger healthcare organizations can use AI to create meaningful operational efficiency.Hendrik explains why AI is only as good as the data it learns from, how structured and unstructured healthcare data affect performance, and why multi-location organizations have both a bigger opportunity and a more complicated implementation challenge.In this episode:• Where AI actually stands in healthcare today• Why "garbage in, garbage out" matters when working with AI• The difference between structured and unstructured healthcare data• Why AI becomes more valuable as organizations scale• The technology challenges DSOs and multi-location groups face• How to test AI with pilots, A/B testing, and measurable hypotheses• Why rising labor costs are accelerating AI adoption• How AI can increase the capacity of existing employees• Why healthcare organizations should use AI to augment people, not simply replace them• Why human connection will remain essential in healthcareThe Happy Practice is from Weave, featuring conversations with the people helping healthcare practices create better experiences for everyone.

What does a HIPAA horror story actually look like, and how can healthcare practices keep one from happening to them?HIPAA, cybersecurity, and compliance expert Amy Wood joins Adam Sierra to share real stories of ransomware, shared passwords, risky vendors, patient data exposure, and preventable security failures.Amy explains why protecting patient information is bigger than an IT problem, what practices should verify before allowing a vendor or AI tool to access patient data, and how simple habits like strong access controls, tested backups, employee offboarding, and security training can prevent small mistakes from becoming major incidents.In this episode:• The most common ways HIPAA and patient data security go wrong• Why ransomware remains a serious risk for healthcare practices• What separates a recoverable security incident from a catastrophe• Why healthcare practices need to vet technology vendors• The risks of shared passwords and poor employee offboarding• What to verify before allowing AI tools to access patient data• How to handle online patient reviews without exposing protected information• Why security requires people, processes, and technology• How to build a culture where employees report mistakes and near missesAmy Wood is a HIPAA, cybersecurity, and compliance expert and the founder of Copper Penny Consulting. She can also be found on the Compliant AF podcast.The Happy Practice is from Weave, featuring conversations with the people helping healthcare practices create better experiences for everyone.This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

AI is not just about automating tasks. For multi-location healthcare organizations, it can help improve consistency, surface better data, and create a more scalable patient experience.In this episode of The Happy Practice, Adam Sierra sits down with Amy Manzo to talk about what AI adoption looks like across multi-location dental practices and how leaders can use technology to improve operations without losing the human connection.Amy brings more than 30 years of dental experience, including practice ownership and leadership across nearly 50 locations. She explains why AI is best used to take on the work teams struggle to complete consistently, from insurance verification and appointment confirmations to phone handling, scheduling, and patient follow-up.The conversation also explores one of the biggest challenges facing DSOs and other multi-location groups: standardization. Amy shares why successful technology implementation should happen in manageable stages, with ongoing follow-up and clear measurement of utilization and conversion.Adam and Amy also dig into same-store growth and why better access, better systems, and better use of data can help existing locations grow without relying only on expansion.In this episode:00:00 Meet Amy Manzo00:37 What people get wrong about AI01:25 Amy’s 30-year journey through dentistry04:04 The first AI tools Amy implemented04:44 Why pilots and experimentation matter05:44 How AI creates different opportunities for multi-location practices06:46 The biggest pain points across nearly 50 locations08:03 Getting phones answered and converting callers09:07 How AI can improve the human patient experience10:16 Insurance verification, online booking, and after-hours access11:31 Meeting patients where they are11:51 How to standardize technology across multiple locations13:03 The KPIs leaders should watch after implementation14:24 Using technology to improve follow-through14:59 How technology can support same-store growth15:55 Where multi-location leaders should start with AI16:16 Why the best approach is to start small and keep movingThe takeaway: do not wait for the perfect AI strategy. Start with one operational problem, implement a solution, measure what happens, and build from there. The goal is not simply more automation. It is more consistent execution, better access for patients, and stronger performance across every location.

Strong healthcare practices are built on more than good systems. They need leaders who can create clarity, protect the culture, and help their teams grow.In this episode of The Happy Practice, Adam Sierra sits down with Laci Phillips of Practice Dynamics to talk about what effective leadership looks like inside a dental practice and why so many practices struggle with it.Laci explains that most dentists never went to school to lead teams, manage businesses, or build culture. They trained to become clinicians. That means leadership often has to be developed intentionally, starting with a clear vision and the right people throughout the organization.The conversation also explores how technology and AI can support better leadership. Laci shares why automation should take repetitive, systematic work off the team’s plate so people can spend more time doing what technology cannot: building relationships, serving patients, communicating, and creating a more personal experience.Adam and Laci also discuss how to identify natural leaders inside a practice, why culture fit matters, and what high-performing practices do differently as they grow.In this episode:00:00 Why leadership matters at every level00:33 The biggest leadership problem practices face01:28 Laci Phillips’ journey into dental consulting03:28 Why the numbers tell the story of a practice04:22 Why leadership has to start at the top05:35 What makes a great leader06:38 How strong cultures are built07:59 How AI is changing healthcare operations08:04 Why technology should remove repetitive work10:23 How to help teams overcome fear of AI10:44 Practical AI use cases inside dental practices11:54 Why AI should create more human patient experiences13:19 The one thing Laci would change in every practice14:33 How to lead without a formal leadership title15:52 What great practice leadership looks like in action19:59 How to start growing leadership today22:03 What drives Laci personallyThe takeaway: leadership is not just a title. It is the ability to create direction, help people improve, and build an environment where the team can do its best work. Technology can support that mission, but the human side of leadership is what gives the practice its direction.

Great healthcare teams are not built by avoiding conflict. They are built by communicating clearly, addressing issues early, and holding each other accountable.In this episode of The Happy Practice, Adam Sierra sits down with dental consultant Genevieve Poppe to talk about the communication problems she sees repeatedly inside healthcare practices and what leaders can do about them.Genevieve explains why highly empathetic teams often struggle with candid feedback. Instead of addressing small problems directly, team members soften the message, avoid uncomfortable conversations, and quietly build resentment when nothing changes. Over time, small frustrations can turn into culture problems, inconsistent expectations, and even employee turnover.The conversation gets practical, including how to address chronic lateness, how people pleasers can become stronger leaders, and why being clear with someone can actually be one of the kindest things a manager can do.Adam and Genevieve also explore the difference between building a workplace that feels like a family and building a high-performing team. Strong teams care about each other, but they also communicate openly, coach one another, and stay accountable to a shared goal.In this episode:00:00 Welcome back Genevieve Poppe00:16 What Genevieve is seeing inside dental practices right now05:19 Why the same team problems keep showing up06:00 Why empathetic healthcare teams struggle with feedback07:19 How to address an employee who is consistently late09:58 Why managers avoid difficult conversations10:37 Why clear communication is often the kindest approach11:21 Leadership advice for people pleasers13:03 How negative assumptions create team conflict14:21 Asking, “What else could be true?”15:05 What high-performing teams do differently15:43 Why a team is different from a family17:17 The easiest communication habit practices can improve18:08 Using “feed forward” instead of feedback19:14 How leaders can create a culture of real-time communication20:26 Why small conversations prevent bigger problems laterThe takeaway: do not wait until a small issue becomes a big one. Address problems early, assume positive intent, communicate clearly, and make candid conversations a normal part of how the team works together.

Marketing should not be treated as a line-item expense. Done well, it should help generate measurable practice growth.In this episode of The Happy Practice, Adam Sierra sits down with Cassidy Turley from Gargle to talk about how healthcare practices can build a smarter, more accountable marketing strategy.Cassidy explains why many practice owners struggle to see marketing as an investment, how competitive markets change what practices need to spend, and why transparency is essential when choosing a marketing partner. They also explore how practices can evaluate performance through metrics like calls, clicks, website traffic, form fills, and conversions instead of simply wondering whether their marketing is working.The conversation also looks at one of the biggest shifts happening in marketing right now: patients are no longer searching only on Google. They are increasingly using tools like ChatGPT and other AI-powered search experiences to find and evaluate healthcare providers. Cassidy shares how that is changing traditional SEO strategies and what practices should be thinking about as AI reshapes patient discovery.In this episode:00:00 Meet Cassidy Turley00:17 The biggest misconception about practice marketing01:14 Marketing as a profit center, not a cost center02:17 Growing up in a dental family04:16 Why dentists are entrepreneurs04:54 How Gargle evolved from direct mail to digital marketing06:12 Why marketing has become harder for practice owners to navigate06:52 Finding a marketing partner you can trust07:20 Why dentists get frustrated with marketing agencies08:24 Transparency, accountability, and measuring results09:36 What marketing transparency actually looks like11:07 How AI is changing SEO and patient search12:49 Using automation without losing the human experience13:32 How to approach changing your marketing or technology stack15:04 Where to find Cassidy and GargleThe takeaway: practices do not need to chase every new marketing trend, but they do need visibility into what their marketing is doing. Ask better questions, measure real outcomes, work with partners you trust, and stay ready to adapt as patient search behavior changes.

AI can help healthcare practice owners reclaim time, automate repetitive work, and focus more energy on patients and practice growth. But the real opportunity is not replacing people. It is giving teams more capacity to do the work that actually requires a human.In this episode of The Happy Practice, Adam Sierra sits down with optometrist and practice owner Dr. Adam Rosa to talk about what that looks like in the real world.Dr. Rosa shares how he acquired a struggling optometry practice just months before COVID, rebuilt the patient experience, strengthened the practice culture, and used technology to help drive its growth. One of his biggest lessons? Sometimes the most effective marketing is simply making it easier for happy patients to share their experience.Then the conversation turns to AI.Dr. Rosa explains how he is already using AI to reduce administrative work, create marketing campaigns, process reports, support repetitive workflows, and free up the mental bandwidth he needs to think strategically about his business. Adam and Dr. Rosa also explore what happens as AI assistants become a normal part of the patient experience and why transparency, education, and seamless access to human staff will matter more than ever.In this episode:00:00 Meet Dr. Adam Rosa00:42 How Dr. Rosa found optometry02:06 Buying and rebuilding a struggling practice04:28 Acquiring a practice right before COVID06:02 How automated review requests helped fuel growth09:07 The harder part of a turnaround: facilities or culture?11:19 Growing the practice after reopening13:00 Why Dr. Rosa became serious about AI15:11 Finding practical AI use cases in healthcare17:12 How AI changes the job of a practice owner19:40 Using AI and email marketing to educate patients23:36 Preparing patients to interact with AI assistants25:04 Why the human relationship still matters27:04 Where to find Dr. Adam RosaThe takeaway: start small. Look for repetitive work that consumes time without requiring your unique expertise, then find ways technology can handle more of it. The goal is not automation for automation’s sake. It is creating more capacity for better patient experiences, stronger teams, and a healthier practice.

How can healthcare practices use AI to grow without losing the human experience that patients value?Chris Balbi joins Adam Sierra to share how his team grew from one injector working out of a dental office to a multi-location med spa organization, and why much of that growth came from building a memorable brand, investing in community, and finding smarter ways to operate.Chris breaks down practical ways healthcare practices can use AI today, from analyzing business data and creating consistent front-office communication to improving retention and helping teams respond to patients more efficiently. He also explains why practices should experiment with new technology without blindly trusting it.In this episode:• How to market a healthcare practice without constantly selling• Why community can become one of your strongest growth strategies• How to make your practice and personal brand more memorable• Practical ways to use AI for front-office operations, staff training, and retention• How AI can help practices analyze business data and uncover opportunities• Why online reviews matter, including how to respond when a patient leaves a negative review• How to balance automation with human judgment and patient experience• Why experimenting early with emerging technology can create a competitive advantageThe goal is not to replace the people who make a practice great. It is to give them better tools, reduce repetitive work, and create more time for the interactions that actually matter.

In this episode: What does it take to start a specialty veterinary practice from scratch without burning out? Veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Ben Bergstrom shares how he opened Eye Vets in Nashville in October 2023 — from a real-estate snag to the systems he perfected early and the mission-aligned team he built. We also talk cataract surgery that restores sight, treating elephants up close, meeting clients in crisis, and how AI tools like ChatGPT are already helping practices work faster, document smarter, and protect team work-life balance.Guest: Dr. Ben Bergstrom is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and founder of I-Vets, a specialty eye practice in Nashville, Tennessee, opened in October 2023. He earned his undergraduate and veterinary degrees from the University of Illinois, completed a rotating internship at the University of Georgia, and trained in a three-year ophthalmology residency at Purdue University. Dr. Bergstrom is passionate about restoring and protecting vision across species, supporting referring veterinarians, and using technology — including AI — to elevate patient care while building a practice culture that prioritizes sustainable, healthy teams.Key Points & Highlights:The 3 toughest startup challenges.Why communication before and after the exam room is the real growth lever in veterinary care.Where AI is already making a difference in practices (notes, after-hours support, front-desk load).Small culture shifts that protect teams from burnout in a high-pressure, high-volume world.Learn More About Weave:Curious about how Weave can transform your practice? Visit us at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ getweave.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to discover more about our services and how we can help you streamline your communications, enhance patient experience, and grow your business.Stay Connected:Don't miss out on any updates or insights. Follow us on social where we share groundbreaking ideas, cutting-edge practices, and insights into the future of healthcare. Connect with us to be part of the conversation that shapes tomorrow's healthcare landscape.Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getweave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@getweave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@weavecommunications⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getweave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Weave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Practice Newsletter:Join our community of professionals and sign up for the Happy Practice Newsletter. Get access to exclusive tips, tricks, and industry insights designed to help you build a happier, more successful practice. Sign up here:⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/as6p2ps8