Why Every Practice Needs a Workflow Audit
June marks the halfway point of the year: a natural time to pause, reflect, and reset.
If the first half felt busy, reactive, or out of sync, you’re not alone.
This week, we’re starting with one of the most powerful (but often overlooked) tools in your operational toolkit: a workflow audit.
What Is a Workflow Audit?
It’s not just a checklist or a software demo.
A workflow audit is a structured, step-by-step review of how people, processes, and technology interact across your practice.
It shines a light on what’s really happening versus what’s supposed to be happening.
Done well, it uncovers friction points that drain time, frustrate staff, and disrupt the patient experience.
How Do You Know It’s Time?
If any of these sound familiar, your practice could benefit:
Staff constantly ask, “What’s next for this patient?”
You see delays in routing referrals, labs, or messages.
Multiple people are doing the same task in different ways.
You’re working harder, but still running behind.
Patients are calling to check on things that should already be done.
Where to Begin: Audit the Patient Journey
Before you fix workflows, follow one patient.
One of the most effective ways to begin is by auditing your patient journey — step by step, from first contact to long-term retention.
Use the 7-stage framework to guide your team:
Becoming a Patient
Scheduling
Check-In
Visit
Check-Out
Follow-Up (including billing)
Retention
At each stage, ask:
What worked smoothly?
What created confusion or delays?
What steps were repeated, skipped, or unclear?
Even observing just a few patient journeys can reveal patterns — and opportunities to tighten up your workflow.
The ROI Is Real
Even small changes, like consolidating a 5-click referral process into one structured task, can save hours each week.
That’s time your team can reinvest into communication, training, and patient care.
Want to Get Started?
Use our Mapping the Patient Journey Worksheet to walk your team through each stage.
It’s simple, collaborative, and built for real practices like yours.
📥 Want the free worksheet? Start mapping your patient journey today.
Final Thought
Because every operational tweak helps your patients feel the difference.