Friction between physicians and administrators is holding your practice back.

As the business of medicine becomes more complex, physicians and administrators often find themselves working in different worlds, with different priorities, different pressures, and different ways of communicating. Even though they share the same goal—providing great care to patients—all these differences slow progress, frustrate teams, and undermine financial performance.

As a medical practice leader, you’re probably seeing this as:

• Difficulty recruiting and retaining high-quality physicians
• Physician compensation models that miss the mark
• Pressure to deliver clinical and financial results that feel out of reach
• Untapped potential within your clinical team
• Resistance to changes that everyone knows are necessary
• Exhaustion from balancing competing priorities

We know a better way to move forward.

We understand how overwhelming this can feel.

Over the last two decades, our advisors have partnered with leaders from over 100 medical practices across the United States. Again and again, we’ve seen practices pour their hopes into new physician compensation models, only to be disappointed when real change doesn’t follow, or things get even worse.

The breakthrough came when we realized that no compensation model—no matter how sophisticated—can fix deeper operational, financial, or cultural issues all by itself. It needs to be built on a foundation of explicit expectations, sufficient resources, and strong leadership. We’ve found that successful practices lead their physicians the same way they lead the rest of their teams: with clarity, fairness, and accountability. When that happens, everything changes.

So, here’s the good news: your medical practice doesn’t need a complete overhaul. You just need to reinforce what’s working and throw out what’s not.

Schedule a Practice Strategy Session

Find Real Solutions with The Best Practice Pact

The Best Practice Pact is a framework we developed for establishing a healthy balance between what a practice asks of its physicians and what the practice gives its physicians in return. It helps practice leaders turn vague, unspoken expectations into clear, mutual agreements, so everyone’s moving in the same direction. Because this balance is the foundation for high-performing medical practices, we’ve built it into all the work we do with medical practices.

We’ve also found The Best Practice Pact an excellent tool for finding solutions that benefit your whole team, both in the short term and over the long run.

Wins for Your Practice:

• Higher levels of respect and trust between physicians and administrators
• Easier physician retention and recruitment
• More engaged and satisfied teams across all departments
• Improved patient outcomes and experiences
• Stronger, more informed financial decisions
• Clear alignment between physician behavior and organizational goals

Wins for Your Physicians:

• Compensation models that feel fair, not frustrating
• Clear expectations and the support to meet them
• A practice culture that respects their time, judgment, and effort
• Fewer administrative frustrations and distractions from patient care
• A greater sense of purpose, autonomy, and belonging

Wins for You:

• Recognition as a leader others look to for clarity and results
• Confidence in navigating complex healthcare challenges
• More time for strategic initiatives instead of constant conflict resolution
• Renewed joy and satisfaction in your leadership role
• Less emotional burden from constantly managing misalignment

Why We Do This Work

You’re up against a system that was never designed for today’s challenges.

Physicians are burning out and walking away from medicine. Communities are losing access to desperately needed care.

And leaders like you are doing everything they can to hold things together.

I started The Best Practice because I believe that the most practical and sustainable way to fix the system is from the inside out. That starts by building medical practices where physicians love to work. Practices that truly allow them to provide the best care in a sustainable way.

A lot of so-called solutions offered by tech firms and pricey consultants are like Band-Aids on cancer: they don’t last because they don’t fix the root cause of the problems facing our practices.

We take a different approach. If you’re still showing up to make healthcare better—for your team, your patients, and your community—we’re here to face the challenge with you, side by side. Let’s build something that actually works. Together.

—Stu Schaff, FACMPE, FHFMA, Founder & Lead Advisor

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About The Best Practice

The Best Practice is a specialized healthcare advisory firm focused on helping medical practices achieve stronger physician alignment, develop smarter compensation strategies, and improve long-term clinical and financial performance.

The firm was founded in 2020 by Stu Schaff, a seasoned advisor with nearly two decades of experience working with hospital- and physician-owned practices across the country, to address complex challenges including physician recruitment, retention, performance management, and compensation design.

Our team includes certified healthcare management professionals and nationally recognized speakers who have presented at MGMA, HFMA, and other leading industry events. Our insights have been featured in Becker’s Hospital Review, hfm, and top healthcare leadership podcasts.

Known for our practical, collaborative approach, The Best Practice helps medical group leaders create the right conditions for high-performing teams, strong financials, and healthier communities.

We’re excited to partner with you in making your practice The Best Practice in your community.