Welcome to "Walk-Ins Welcome: An Urgent Care Marketing Podcast" with your hosts Nick Hoard and Michael Ray! Join Nick and Michael every week as they bring you new episodes to help you change the way you're marketing your medical practice. With helpful tips, inspiring stories + interviews, and insight into the world of digital marketing, you're sure to listen and feel motivated every week
This week, we're sharing something special: Michael's full talk from the 2025 Urgent Care Association (UCA) Conference in Dallas. Titled The Front Desk Evolution, this session was standing-room-only and sparked conversations that continued long after the conference ended.In this high-impact presentation, Michael makes the case that the front desk is not just a cost center—it's your clinic's most underutilized sales team. From phone scripts to objection handling and AI-enhanced booking tools, this session is loaded with actionable strategies you can take back to your clinic immediately.If you're ready to stop leaving thousands of dollars in missed appointments on the table, this is the episode for you.
Michael is back after a whirlwind week at the 2025 Urgent Care Association (UCA) Conference in Dallas—and he's recapping the entire event with Nick. From standing-room-only sessions to surprise podcast shoutouts, this episode is a full debrief of everything that went down.Michael shares the behind-the-scenes of his packed talk, Front Desk Evolution, which sparked a lot of head-nodding and follow-up conversations. Turns out, many clinics still treat the front desk as an afterthought—and it's costing them thousands in lost patient opportunities.This one is part conference recap, part culture commentary (yes, Uber stories included), and all about what healthcare leaders should be paying attention to if they want to grow their clinics in 2025 and beyond.
Today's episode is a deep dive into real-world urgent care marketing—and what it actually takes to grow and scale a multi-location clinic.Nick and Michael are joined by Chryssa Rich, Director of Marketing at Primary Health Medical Group, a physician-owned, 24-location urgent care brand based in Idaho.With 12 years of experience leading marketing at Primary Health—and a career that spans finance, real estate, automotive, and entertainment—Chryssa brings a seasoned operator's perspective to the mic. You'll hear what's worked, what hasn't, and what most clinics are still getting wrong when it comes to measuring ROI, driving repeat visits, and building long-term brand trust in their communities.From billboards to direct mail to an in-house built real-time patient waiting widget, Chryssa shares how Primary Health mixes old-school and new-school tactics to keep waiting rooms full and patients coming back.This episode is packed with marketing takeaways for urgent care clinic owners, directors, and anyone juggling strategy with daily operations—and it's a must-listen for any startup clinic trying to scale without wasting money on the wrong moves.
This week's episode is a little different. The PCMP team has been on the ground at the UCA Convention, connecting with forward-thinking clinic owners and operators from across the country. So instead of our usual format, we're bringing you a high-impact clip from our latest live webinar: “How to Use Google Ads to Beat the Summer Slump.”In this session, Michael and Nick are joined by our in-house Google Ads expert, Philip, to unpack real-world strategies that are working right now to drive volume and visibility during the slower months.
Nick and Michael are back behind the mics diving into one of the biggest mistakes clinics make: putting all their eggs—and their patient acquisition—into one basket.From paid ads to word-of-mouth to grassroots outreach, they break down why true growth only happens when you build everywhere, not just online. It's part marketing strategy, part reality check, and 100% focused on helping your urgent care become the go-to clinic in your community.Get ready for practical tips, real-world examples, and a reminder that omnipresence (not just Google Ads) is the real secret to scaling.
Vision isn't just a buzzword—it's the difference between a clinic that coasts and one that climbs.Nick and Michael (Milo's tea in hand) dig into why so many urgent care owners are unknowingly flying VFR—reactive, unstructured, and stuck below the clouds. With aviation as the metaphor, they draw a clear line between clinics that are just getting by and those operating with intention, strategy, and altitude.It's part story, part strategy, and packed with insights for anyone ready to stop winging it—and start scaling with purpose.
Today's episode is all about choosing the right software to scale your urgent care clinic—without getting burned by the wrong vendor.Nick and Michael are joined by two powerhouse guests: Jim Dhein from athenahealth and Warren Herring, President and CEO of TrustCare Health, a 12-location urgent care powerhouse in Mississippi.This episode is a first for the show—bringing on both the tech vendor and the clinic leader using the tech in real life. You'll get a full-circle view of what it's really like to grow a multi-location clinic with Athena as your EHR and patient management platform.Jim Dhein has spent his entire career in healthcare—from clinical diagnostics to sales leadership—and now serves as Director of Urgent Care at athenahealth, where he focuses on helping clinics scale smarter with better tools.Warren Herring founded TrustCare in 2012 and has grown it into one of the region's largest independent urgent, primary, and pediatric care groups. With degrees from Samford and Tulane, and a track record of expansion into mental health and primary care, Warren brings the real-world operator perspective to this tech conversation.From ambient AI tools like SUKI and automated phone systems like Flip, to the practical pain (and payoff) of switching EHRs, this is a can't-miss for clinic owners serious about scaling.
Today's episode is all about the real cost of marketing (or not marketing
Nick and Michael sit down with Geoffrey Gu, co-founder and CEO of Fluency, to discuss how AI is revolutionizing efficiency in urgent care clinics. Geoffrey shares the story behind Fluency, an AI-powered clinical co-pilot designed to streamline patient intake, clinical documentation, and coding processes. Learn how Fluency's EHR-agnostic platform helps urgent care providers reduce door-to-door time, handle high patient volumes without additional staffing, and improve overall patient care. Plus, Geoffrey offers an exclusive risk-free 50-day trial of Fluency for Walk-Ins Welcome listeners by mentioning the podcast. Tune in to hear how AI can give urgent care clinics the tools they need to scale and deliver better care.About Geoffrey:Geoffrey is the co-founder and CEO of Fluency, a clinical AI copilot for urgent cares. Fluency uses AI to gather patient history -- including HPI, ROS, and PFSH -- in the waiting room and translates patient responses into clinical notes with predictive diagnoses, treatment plans, and relevant billing codes to allow for a streamlined patient encounter.Geoffrey studied human biology as a premedical student from the University of Southern California. He was on the path for medical school before noticing the monotonous challenges that healthcare providers face daily, which inspired him to start Fluency. He aims to relieve workflow burdens at every step of the patient care journey, from automating intake to post-visit clinical notes.At Fluency, Geoffrey is determined to bring the capabilities of AI to every urgent care, allowing clinics to see more patients.https://www.instagram.com/fluencyhq , https://www.linkedin.com/company/fluencyhealth/ Connect with Geoffrey:https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-gu-828843183/
Dive into the dynamic world of healthcare marketing with "Walk-Ins Welcome: A Healthcare Marketing Podcast," presented by Nick Hoard and Michael Ray from Patient Care Marketing Pros. This weekly podcast is your essential guide to navigating the complexities of marketing in the healthcare sector. Each episode, Nick and Michael offer a blend of expert advice, engaging interviews, and inspiring success stories to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to boost your clinic's patient volume. From the latest marketing strategies to insights on industry trends, "Walk-Ins Welcome" is designed to inspire healthcare professionals and marketers alike to achieve greater success.
In this week's episode, Nick and Michael speak with Joe Brennan, Vice President at TytoCare. TytoCare is a platform that combines software and hardware to provide virtual care with remote examination capabilities. The device, about the size of half a baseball, includes features such as an otoscope, stethoscope, derm camera, and infrared thermometer. It can be paired with other peripheral devices like a blood pressure cuff and weight scale. TytoCare is used in various settings, including urgent care clinics, schools, and on-site clinics. Throughout the episode, they discuss the future of telehealth and how to expand access to healthcare with TytoCare. Learn more about TytoCare https://www.tytocare.com/ Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-brennan-88a8004/ Have a question or a story we should feature as an episode? Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ Stay connected with Patient Care Marketing Pros! Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patientcaremarketingpros LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA
In today's episode, Michael talks about his recent trip to Disney World with his family, and the customer service experience they had. Nick and Michael discuss the importance of proper training and knowledge for staff members in order to provide a positive experience for patients. They draw parallels between the Disney World experience and the urgent care industry, emphasizing the need for staff to be well-trained on the services offered and to effectively communicate with patients. They also discuss the missed opportunities for upselling and providing additional services due to a lack of understanding. Have a question or a story we should feature as an episode? Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ Stay connected with Patient Care Marketing Pros! Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patientcaremarketingpros LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA
In this episode, Nick shares his recent experience of getting sick while on vacation in Colorado and needing to visit Three Peaks Urgent Care, which happens to be one of our clients. He praises the urgent care facility for their excellent marketing, seamless online check-in process, friendly staff, and efficient care. Nick and Michael discuss the importance of making patients feel valued and cared for, and encourage urgent care providers to prioritize patient experience. Have a question or a story we should feature as an episode? Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ Stay connected with Patient Care Marketing Pros! Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patientcaremarketingpros LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA
In this episode, Nick and Michael interview representatives from Mercy Urgent Care, an independent nonprofit urgent care system in North Carolina. Join them as they talk to Rachel Sossoman: President & CEO; Jon Medin: Director of Growth & Marketing; Nick Scherer: Hr Generalist & Executive Assistant. They discuss the mission, vision, and values of Mercy Urgent Care, which is focused on providing excellent healthcare and eliminating barriers to care. The guests highlight the importance of putting people first and creating a purpose-driven organization. They also discuss the challenges in the healthcare industry and the need for healthcare professionals who are committed to serving the community. The conversation explores the concept of retail healthcare and the importance of approaching healthcare with a ministry mindset. It emphasizes the need for healthcare organizations to prioritize patient care and community service over profit. The guests discuss the impact of capitalism without morality and the dangers of focusing solely on financial gain. They also highlight the importance of happy employees in providing excellent patient care. The conversation delves into the marketing strategies employed by Mercy Urgent Care, including their MercyMe Program & their new marketing campaign "Let's Heal Healthcare". The guests emphasize the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the value of creating a movement within the healthcare industry. Learn more about Mercy Urgent Care https://mercyurgentcare.org/ Connect with Rachel, Jon, and Nick https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelsossoman https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-scherer Have a question or a story we should feature as an episode? Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ Stay connected with Patient Care Marketing Pros! Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patientcaremarketingpros LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA