The patient journey often begins with an online query. In fact, Tebra's 2025 Patient Perspectives survey found that 79% of patients look online often or sometimes to find out about doctors or medical care. While artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly popular, only 5% of adults are "very confident" that they provide accurate information, according to a KFF poll. This means that search engines remain a critical tool for practice growth; the same survey reveals that Google is the top source patients use to look for reviews of healthcare providers.

We’ve created the following checklist to help you evaluate your practice's strengths. Review each section to see what you’re doing right to attract new patients and deliver an experience that keeps them coming back. Any box left unchecked is an opportunity to grow your practice in 2026 and beyond.

TL;DR: To achieve sustainable growth in 2026, private practices must focus on 5 key areas: building a high-performing website that converts visitors, strengthening their online reputation to build trust, modernizing the patient experience with digital tools, streamlining front-office operations for maximum efficiency, and tracking performance metrics to refine strategy.

Your website is often the first place a prospective patient interacts with your brand. According to Tebra’s 2025 Patient Perspectives survey, 44% of patients say a practice’s website contributes to their decision when choosing a provider.

But a great website isn't only about look and feel. It must be built to help search engines find you. This is search engine optimization (SEO), a key element of an effective medical marketing strategy.

Fully optimizing your site — for patients and search engines — requires understanding how search engines and AI overviews work, writing exceptional copy, and providing clear paths for visitors to take action, whether to book an appointment online or call your front desk.

Your online reputation is your digital word-of-mouth, and it’s one of the most powerful tools for practice growth. According to Tebra’s 2025 Patient Perspectives survey, 77% of patients read online reviews before choosing a doctor and 51% rank them as a top-3 factor in their decision. Proactively managing your presence ensures that prospective patients see an accurate, trustworthy, and positive reflection of your practice.

Patient retention is critical for continued growth. Tebra’s 2025 survey data reveals that an excellent provider experience (69%) and easy scheduling (54%) are top reasons patients return for multiple visits.

Patients now expect convenience, and they aren't afraid to look elsewhere to find it. In fact, a stunning 65% would switch doctors to get easier ways to book appointments and contact a practice. The following tactics are essential to modernize your patient experience and build long-term loyalty.

Eliminating time-consuming, manual tasks is a strong strategy for practice growth. The administrative burden is immense. Tebra's 2025 data found that 88% of providers feel repetitive documentation is their biggest time-waster. This inefficiency also impacts patients, with 37% expressing frustration over "having to call for things that should be online."

By automating tedious front-office tasks, you can reduce administrative strain, improve staff and patient satisfaction, and free up valuable time for patient care.

Data, rather than guesswork, drives a successful growth strategy. Patient retention is fragile, and the reasons patients leave are often operational issues that can be tracked and improved. According to Tebra's 2025 Patient Perspectives survey, top reasons patients have left a provider include slow or no response to questions or concerns (31%) and a lack of follow-up (29%).

Tracking key performance indicators, from patient satisfaction scores to staff time spent on administrative tasks, is the only way to identify and fix those gaps. Setting clear goals and monitoring your progress allows you to refine your approach for sustainable, long-term success.

Use the following checklist to review which tactics you’ve already completed, as well as those you’ll need to tackle in 2026 to attract new patients and keep them coming back. Consider each item an opportunity to grow your practice this year and beyond.

I've optimized my practice website for the best possible rankings in search results.

My website conveys a professional, modern brand.

My practice website is optimized to convert visitors into patients.

I have claimed my profiles on healthcare, business, and directory websites.

I have claimed and audited my practice’s Google Business Profile listing.

My practice has a business page on Facebook.

I proactively manage our online reputation.

My practice offers online scheduling.

We send appointment reminders to reduce no-shows and improve each patient’s experience.

Our patients can easily share post-appointment feedback.

My front office staff have the technology to accomplish tasks with less work, in less time.

My practice tracks business performance metrics, including patient acquisition and retention goals.

Growing a medical practice in 2026 requires a holistic approach that blends a strong digital presence with operational excellence and a modern patient experience. By focusing on building a high-performing website, managing your online reputation, enhancing patient convenience, streamlining administrative tasks, and tracking and acting on key metrics, you create a sustainable foundation for growth. Use the above checklist as your roadmap to not only attract patients but also keep them coming back.