Episode 141: Team-Based Care and Efficiency - Building a Thriving Rural Private Practice
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Brittany Anderson, a passionate rural family medicine physician from Alabama who’s breaking the myth that private practice is dead.
Dr. Anderson shares her inspiring journey from employed, academic medicine—where bureaucracy and lack of autonomy led to burnout—to launching her own thriving private practice in 2022. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of creating a sustainable, patient-centered clinic from the ground up, how she built a strong team, and the financial realities of going solo.
Dr. Anderson also offers valuable advice for physicians considering private practice, emphasizing the importance of vision, efficient teamwork, and maintaining personal well-being along the entrepreneurial journey. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make private practice work in today’s healthcare landscape, or you’re navigating burnout yourself, this episode is packed with practical insights, encouragement, and hope. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
- Build on a Strong Foundation: Before launching your own practice, get crystal clear on your vision and mission. Let these guide every decision—from hiring to daily processes—so you create a practice aligned with your purpose.
- Teamwork & Efficiency Matter: Dr. Anderson credits her success to a well-integrated team. Investing in proper team formation, regular huddles, and empowering every staff member (from receptionist to nursing staff) leads to efficient care, happier patients, and less burnout.
- Start Lean, Grow Smart: You don’t need the fanciest setup to begin. Focus on essential expenses, know your numbers, and market purposefully. Dr. Anderson started small, used powerful grassroots marketing, and filled her panel from day one—proof positive that strategic planning works!
Meet Dr. Brittney Anderson:
I’m Dr. Brittney Anderson, a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder and CEO of Anderson Family Care — a thriving private practice I launched in Alabama in 2022. I completed undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical school at UAB (Birmingham) I did my family medicine residency training at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa).
I know firsthand how overwhelming (and exhilarating) it can be to step away from traditional models and create something of your own. That’s why I’m passionate about helping other physicians reclaim their freedom and joy in medicine by launching successful private practices of their own.
In addition to my clinical and coaching work, I host the podcast, Physicians Hanging a Shingle, and I’m honored to serve as current Board Chair of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Vice-Speaker for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. I also serve on numerous boards throughout my community and state, working to amplify the voice of physicians and improve healthcare access in Alabama.
You can find Dr. Brittney Anderson on:
- Instagram: @hanging_a_shingle
- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrittneyanderson/
- Website: https://hangingashingle.com/
- Sign up for her weekly newsletter: https://hangingashingle.com/subscribe
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