Demonstrate your value to drive revenue for your practice

You’ve signed your contract, learned the ropes, and settled into your new role. You understand the practice’s policies, workflow, and day-to-day operations. Now comes the next step, demonstrating your value. Every patient interaction, workflow improvement, and idea for growth can strengthen your practice’s success, allowing you to play a key role in driving both quality and revenue.

Here are some practical ways you can demonstrate your value and help your practice grow.

1. Optimize patient volume and efficiency

Efficient use of time and resources allows dermatologists to see more patients, reduce overhead, and maintain high-quality care, which are all key drivers of practice revenue. Streamlining scheduling, workflows, and patient engagement processes helps maximize capacity while ensuring every patient interaction delivers value.

Manage schedules strategically

Balance patient load to maintain quality and efficiency. Incorporate telehealth visits as appropriate, either as stand-alone appointments or between in-person visits, to expand access. A well-managed schedule increases throughput, enhances patient convenience, and drives consistent revenue. Learn more about teledermatology practice workflow, preparing staff, and reimbursement.

Streamline physician workflows

Use EHR templates, medical scribes, or voice recognition tools to minimize documentation time and increase patient-facing care. Adopting technology that simplifies office operations and workflow enables physicians to see more patients without extending hours, directly boosting productivity and profitability. Explore technology solutions that optimize office operations and workflow by visiting the HIT Solutions page.

Minimize no-shows

Automate reminders via text or email to reduce missed appointments. Offering online scheduling and digital intake forms makes the process easier for patients while improving accuracy and reducing administrative workload. Fewer no-shows and smoother check-ins translate to more consistent scheduling and stronger revenue stability.

2. Optimize operational efficiency and administrative workflows

Enhancing efficiency doesn’t just save time, it directly boosts your bottom line. By streamlining administrative processes and leveraging technology, dermatologists can reduce overhead, improve billing accuracy, and create a smoother experience for both staff and patients.

Integrate technology for efficiency

Leverage technology to streamline operations and reduce administrative burden. Optimizing your EHR, adding self-check-in kiosks, adopting digital payment, and automating insurance verification can improve both workflow and patient satisfaction, which contributes to stronger retention and revenue growth. Learn more about health IT and EHR adoption resources.

Streamline prior authorizations

Use the AAD’s Prior Authorization Appeal Letter Tool to save time and reduce administrative burden. By expediting approvals and reducing claim denials, your practice can accelerate cash flow, maintain treatment continuity, and ensure patients receive timely care, all while freeing up staff to focus on revenue-generating activities.

Code accurately

Accurate coding and thorough documentation ensure proper reimbursement and minimize costly denials. By prioritizing coding precision and compliance, dermatologists can capture the full value of services provided, safeguard revenue, and demonstrate the practice’s commitment to both quality and integrity. Visit the coding resource center for guidance.

3. Enhance the practice’s reputation and reach

A strong reputation and active patient engagement demonstrate the value your dermatology practice provides beyond the exam room. Building visibility and trust within your community helps attract new patients, strengthen loyalty, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

Build your social media presence

Use social media to educate patients, address misconceptions, and share practical skin care advice while highlighting your expertise and practice. Before promoting your practice online, ensure that your content aligns with your organization’s policies. Start with one platform, stay authentic, and post consistently to engage patients even before they visit your office. Learn how to get started and build an effective social media strategy and social media best practices.

Encourage patient reviews

Invite satisfied patients to share their experience through an online review. Positive reviews on platforms enhance your credibility, attract new patients, and demonstrate your commitment to patient satisfaction.

Develop referral networks

Build strong relationships with other physicians and referring practices. A reliable referral network supports a steady patient flow, increases visibility, and reinforces your practice’s credibility within the broader medical community.

4. Expand services and access

Offering additional services and improving access allows dermatologists to attract new patients, retain existing ones, and increase practice revenue. Thoughtful expansion also demonstrates the dermatologist’s expertise and commitment to comprehensive, high-quality care.

Introduce new procedures or treatments

With practice approval and adherence to policies, you can offer cosmetic, procedural, or specialized services that can grow patient volume and boost retention. To do so successfully, assess local patient demand, complete any required training or certification, prepare staff for workflow and documentation changes, and ensure the practice has the necessary equipment and safety protocols. For example, adding Botox or laser treatments after proper training can create a new revenue stream while providing patients with convenient, high-quality care.

Adopt teledermatology to expand patient access

Beyond improving in-office efficiency, teledermatology can serve as a new patient acquisition tool. By offering virtual visits, dermatologists can reach patients in remote or underserved areas, those with mobility challenges, or patients seeking convenient follow-up care. To implement this as a service, physicians should ensure proper technology setup, staff training, and clear protocols for scheduling, documentation, and billing. Telehealth in this context becomes a revenue-driving service expansion rather than just a workflow improvement. Learn more about getting start with teledermatology, practice workflow, and the AAD Teledermatology Standards.

5. Improve clinical outcomes

Delivering measurable, high-quality clinical outcomes demonstrates your practice’s commitment to excellence and directly influences both payer incentives and patient trust. By tracking, analyzing, and acting on outcome data, dermatologists can showcase the tangible value of their care and position their practice for sustainable growth.

Track and analyze outcomes

Use EHR dashboards or reports to monitor treatment results, recurrence rates, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Identifying trends across conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or skin cancer, supports targeted improvements, highlights clinical expertise, and strengthens your reputation for delivering results patients can see and feel.

Monitor MIPS performance

Regularly document and evaluate required measures for MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System). Strong performance not only enhances reimbursement potential but also reflects your commitment to quality, safety, and compliance. Explore the MIPS reporting and fee schedule page for more guidance on MIPS compliance.

Leverage outcomes to build partnerships

Demonstrating high performance through data can strengthen relationships with referring practices, payers, and health systems. Clear documentation of outcomes helps negotiate favorable payer contracts, attract referrals, and position your practice as a leader in dermatologic care.

6. Demonstrate leadership beyond the exam room

Dermatologists can add value to their practice not only through clinical care but also by taking on leadership roles, sharing expertise, and influencing practice strategy. Engaging in professional leadership strengthens the practice’s reputation, fosters strategic growth, and positions you as a trusted voice in dermatology.

Take on committee or leadership roles

Join committees or boards, including AAD Committees, Councils, and Task Forces (CCTFs), to shape strategy, reimbursement, and policy. Leadership positions provide opportunities to influence clinical standards, connect with peers, and position yourself and your practice as a thought leader in dermatology.

Serve as a physician liaison

Act as a bridge between clinical staff and administration to ensure physician and team perspectives are represented in management discussions. This strengthens operational efficiency, improves staff engagement, and helps align practice priorities with patient care goals.

Offer educational opportunities

Host webinars, present at conferences, or lead in-practice training sessions to share expertise. Educational initiatives enhance your professional reputation, expand your network, attract referrals, and reinforce the practice’s status as a leader in dermatology.

Dermatologists play a key role in driving both patient care and practice revenue. By focusing on efficiency and patient loyalty, physicians can directly impact productivity and long-term growth. Supporting efforts such as strong clinical outcomes, a trusted reputation, and active referral networks reinforce this value. A balanced approach ensures dermatologists demonstrate measurable impact while helping the practice thrive.

Additional AAD resources

• Practice finance and operations: See our growing resources for dermatologists on the business side of practice.

• RVUs explained for dermatologists: Learn how Relative Value Units can impact your compensation.

• How to read a balance sheet: Access our beginner’s guide to balance sheets.

This content was created with the particular needs of early-career dermatologists in mind. See the rest of our Career Launch resources for young physicians.