304: How to Fire a Patient Without Drama

 

I had to fire the same patient twice – and the truth is, I should have seen the warning signs much sooner.

This episode is the one I wish someone had handed me 20 years ago. I’m walking you through the real story of a patient who wasn’t the best fit from the beginning. She crossed every line in slow motion and once I realized the red flags had been there all along, I knew it was time to let her go. But I wanted to choose the words that would end the relationship cleanly – without a bad review or a sleepless night. 

If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and felt your stomach sink when you saw a patient’s name, this one is for you.

 

Chapters

 

02:15 – The Patient I Actually Had to Fire Twice

07:00 – Red Flags to Spot Before You Even Say Yes

11:30 – When Entitlement Becomes a Practice Problem

14:00 – How to Let a Patient Go Without the Drama

18:30 – Defining Your Standards So Patients Don’t Define Them For You

 

There’s a moment in every practitioner’s career when you realize you can’t help someone who doesn’t trust you, won’t follow through, or treats your time like it’s negotiable. And recognizing that moment before it costs you six months of wasted energy? That’s a skill no one teaches.

 

In this episode, I’m talking about patient fit – what it looks like, what it doesn’t look like, and what happens when you keep holding on longer than you should. I’ll give you the exact conversation I had (and the one I wish I’d had sooner), plus the non-negotiables I use now to vet every new patient before we even start.

 

Because here’s the thing: if a patient doesn’t trust your process, they’re going to drain your practice. Every single time.

 

I’m Ronda Nelson – functional medicine practitioner, business mentor for cash-based wellness providers, and host of The Clinical Entrepreneur Podcast. I help clinically sharp practitioners build practices that are actually sustainable – without compromising how they work or who they work with. New episodes drop weekly.

 

Links and Resources

 

The 5 Clinical Non-Negotiables (free guide)

Clinical Academy

Free Practice Strategy Call