5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  The practice experienced major transitions, including the owner’s husband retiring, longtime employees leaving or dying, and new staff joining.

• 2

  The author describes the past year as the most stressful of her career, second only to the year the practice opened.

• 3

  During uncertainty, the author recommends communicating what is known and unknown, checking in with staff, listening, and acknowledging that change is hard.

• 4

  Sharing her own grief with an employee helped the author connect with her as a person experiencing loss.

• 5

  The author identifies employees as the practice’s most important assets because they know its patients, systems, and routines.