Running a clinic is rarely a straight line, and sometimes, your biggest wins are hiding inside your hardest decisions.

In this episode, Dr. Nerida McDonald shares how an accidental entry into ownership taught her the most brutal and brilliant lessons of business. From escaping a misaligned partnership to rebuilding from scratch (twice), she reveals what it really takes to evolve from a stressed-out solo owner to the proud architect of a thriving, future-proofed clinic.

Whether you're stuck in a clunky co-ownership model, juggling burnout, or thinking about scaling smart without losing your soul, this one’s got what you need to hear.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Structural warning signs to look for before you commit to Practice Ownership (00:40)
• How to build a team where every doctor, manager, and receptionist rows in the same direction (17:46)
• Decision-making filters that matter when choosing a site (24:14)
• Why the same systems that got you “here” won’t get you “there” (32:07)
• How to evaluate risk, secure the right lease deal, and offset rising costs by activating underutilized revenue streams (43:16)
• Structuring your team so you’re not holding everything together (56:09)
• How to “retire” from low-leverage roles while holding on to the parts of the job that energize you (01:03:20)
• Leveraging awards as a tool for growth, visibility & reflection (01:05:28)
• The ownership mindset shift from survival to strategic scaling (01:11:00)

You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how real practice transformation happens (and how to start your own).

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about One Payroll Mistake Away From Disaster: The HR Trap That Could Sink Your Practice, go back and check out Episode 56.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

ABOUT DR NERIDA MCDONALD

GP, Founder and Owner of Walker Street Doctors, a ten-GP strong, award-winning, private general practice in the heart of North Sydney. Delivering excellence in Primary Healthcare to the patient base of North Sydney and beyond. Also a wannabe runner and vegetable gardener.

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nerida.mcdonald.355

Website: https://www.walkerstreetdoctors.com.au/blogs/our-team/dr-nerida-mcdonald

You can be running a good practice, serving your patients, and building your team, and still be sitting on a ticking time bomb when it comes to HR. It’s not always the dramatic issues that do the damage. It’s the small, silent oversights that compound over time and take a toll on your bank account, your team’s morale, and your clinic’s long-term value.

In this episode, we’re joined by George Sotiris, an HR compliance expert with deep experience inside healthcare. We talk through the hidden landmines that most practice owners miss when it comes to contracts, culture, compliance, and how your team actually operates day to day.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your HR house is really in order, this conversation is your wake-up call.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• HR blindspots and why your assumptions about “common sense” don’t hold up when it comes to compliance (00:25)
• How having airtight contracts and clear award interpretations can protect your practice (10:08)
• What to review now if you ever plan to exit or bring on new owners (16:31)
• The top 3 HR compliance gaps most owners miss (until it’s too late) (27:27)
• How to set up your clinic to protect your people and your brand (38:28)

Listen in to hear how small missteps can cost more than money, and what to do now to protect your practice later.

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about CCM Is Coming: Will Your Clinic Collapse or Adapt?, go back and check out Episode 55.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

ABOUT GEORGE SOTIRIS

George Sotiris is the Founder and Director of HR in Health, a leading provider of proactive HR solutions and support to the health industry nationwide. With a career spanning over 15 years, George has established himself as a Workplace Relations Specialist dedicated to serving the unique needs of healthcare practices.

Driven by his genuine appreciation for the challenges inherent in healthcare HR management, George founded HR in Health in 2018. Since its inception, the organisation has been committed to empowering practices with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate complex employment issues and build robust systems for fostering better workplaces.

George firmly believes that the success of any practice hinges on strong employment foundations and accountability at every level. By simplifying intricate staffing disputes and offering comprehensive education on HR best practices, George, and his team at HR in Health strive to make a tangible difference in the health industry

With major changes rolling in, Practice Owners are facing a moment of reckoning: stick with outdated systems, or evolve fast.

This episode is your inside look at what’s changing in chronic care management, how to lead your clinic through it, and how to make sure your team isn’t just coping, but thriving.

We break down the real impact of the new CCM billing rules, the practical models that actually work in lean, resource-stretched clinics, and the team conversations you need to be having right now.

If you’re a GP or Clinic Owner trying to scale sustainably without getting lost in compliance chaos, this is the episode for you.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• What’s replacing CDM and how to stay compliant in 2025 (0:00:32)
• How your appointment lengths, billing decisions, and team handoffs will need to adapt under the new structure (0:05:03)
• Exploring realistic models that balance efficiency with patient care, including health coaching-style nurse consults and high-leverage telehealth setups (0:06:48)
• The economics of GP time, how to think about nurse productivity, and what the funding changes really mean for your bottom line (0:14:40)
• New requirements for MyMedicare and allied health collaboration (0:23:06)

Whether you’re ready to lead from the front or still figuring out your first move, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to reshape how your clinic delivers chronic care, profitably, sustainably, and with purpose.

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about The Harsh Truth No One Tells GP Owners About Building a Dream Practice — Until It’s Too Late, go back and check out Episode 54.

Resources

Live Workshop - CDM Fix 2.0 - Final Countdown to MBS Reforms

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.