Is Your Clinic Due for a Skin Check?

Earlier this week, I had a skin check. Just a routine one. But the doc found a little spot on my nose—nothing too serious, but it needed zapping off because it was a precursor to something more dangerous.

It got me thinking…

We often make short-term decisions that seem harmless in the moment, but over time, they stack up—and the consequences eventually catch us. Like not wearing sunscreen. It doesn’t hurt today, but it might in 10 years.

The same goes for your business.

Most clinic owners I speak with are juggling so much that they put off checking in on the business’s long-term health. But just like with skin checks, waiting too long can lead to much bigger problems.

So let’s change that.
Today, I want to walk you through a “skin check” for your clinic—a simple audit to help you assess the true health of your business and avoid nasty surprises down the track.

The 5-Part Clinic Check-Up

Here are five key areas to review, with a few critical questions under each to help guide your thinking.

1. Client Acquisition & Retention

This is your pipeline. You can’t grow (or sustain) a clinic without the right flow of clients.

Ask yourself:

• How effective are our current acquisition and retention strategies?

• Are we attracting the right types of clients for our services and team?

• What is our current client retention rate, and how could it improve?

• How satisfied are our clients, and do we have actual feedback to back that up?

If you’re not attracting the right clients, it’s harder to attract the right team too. Great practitioners want to work with clients who energise and inspire them.

2. Financial Systems

You can’t make great decisions if you don’t know your numbers. Let’s keep this simple but powerful.

Ask yourself:

• Do we have a clear understanding of our revenue streams and expenses?

  Write down each revenue stream and the % of total revenue it contributes. Then note how much time or capital you're investing into each one. You might find you're over-investing in a stream that's underperforming.

• What’s our break-even point, and are we consistently operating above it?

• How can we reduce unnecessary costs without compromising the quality of care?

Get into the detail. Go through your P&L line by line—see where the money’s going and if it’s actually driving value for your clients or team.

3. Team Cohesion & Capability

A brilliant team can make or break your clinic. But cohesion and communication don’t happen by accident.

Ask yourself:

• Do we have the right mix of skills and experience in our team?

• How effective is communication and collaboration?

• What professional development are we providing to support their growth?

Pro tip: Give yourself a score out of 10 for team cohesion and collaboration. Then describe what a 10 would look like—and map the gap. That’s your growth plan right there.

4. Adapting to Industry Change

We can’t control the wind, but we can adjust the sails.

Right now, if you’re in Australia and work with the NDIS, you’ve likely felt the shake-up. The changes are real, and they’re coming in fast.

Ask yourself:

• Are we fully compliant with current healthcare regulations and standards?

• How are we preparing for changes in laws, funding, or systems (like the NDIS)?

• What strategies are in place to mitigate risks from these changes?

Look at broader trends too—rising costs of living, shifts in client behaviour, or regulatory pressures. Who’s benefiting in this climate, and how can you serve them better?

5. Vision & Strategic Direction

Finally, zoom out. Where are you going, and is the whole team aligned with the vision?

Ask yourself:

• Is our vision still relevant, exciting, and clearly communicated to the team?

• Do we have a strategic plan that breaks down long-term goals into quarterly or monthly actions?

• Are we regularly reviewing our progress and adjusting course as needed?

This isn’t about grand statements—it’s about practical alignment. Your team should be able to see how what they do every day connects to where the clinic is heading.

Final Thoughts

Just like you wouldn’t ignore a suspicious mole, don’t ignore the signs that something in your business might need attention.

It’s easy to make short-term decisions that seem fine at the time. But eventually, they compound. Whether it’s overspending on the wrong revenue stream, underinvesting in team development, or missing changes in your regulatory environment—it all adds up.

So take a moment.
Sit down with these five areas. Ask the questions. Write down your answers.