Scaling independent practice: multi-location management and the future of ambient care

Insights from Dr. Bruce Bullock on evaluating EHR platforms, reducing documentation fatigue, and protecting practice independence.

Overview

Managing an independent multi-location practice shouldn't require trading clinical focus for operational oversight. After serving as a CMIO during a major enterprise conversion — an experience he describes as "a disaster" — Dr. Bruce Bullock found a long-term path forward for Marble Valley Healthworks.

This whitepaper examines how combining medent’s core platform with ambient listening powered by Suki created a scalable foundation for care delivery, provider retention, and business growth.

What you’ll learn inside:

• Lessons from enterprise EHR conversions: why enterprise platforms fall short for independent primary care — and what to look for instead.
• Multi-site operational control: how to segment financial and clinical data by provider, location, and practice without sacrificing efficiency.
• The ROI of ambient listening: early adoption results — including 280 sessions in 3 months — and how AI at the point of care drives meaningful patient interactions.
• Community-wide interoperability: how connected local EHR networks strengthen independent practices across an entire region.

"medent as a business tool for independent practices is so much better than what we've had in the past."

— Bruce D. Bullock, MD