Why Compliance Might Be the Secret to Scaling Your Practice

This article is based on episode 16 of the Scaling Practice Management podcast: “Balancing Growth and Regulatory Compliance,” with guest Jacqueline Waterhouse.

Watch the full conversation below:

When scaling a medical practice, compliance is rarely the first thing decision-makers want to talk about. It’s seen as red tape, a regulatory burden that slows things down. But what if that mindset is exactly what’s holding your growth back?

In this episode of Scaling Practice Management, we sit down with healthcare success and compliance consultant Jacqueline Waterhouse, COT, who brings decades of real-world experience in clinical care and operations.

Her message is clear: compliance isn’t a barrier to growth—it’s the foundation of it. When built into daily workflows and supported by the right tools and team structure, compliance doesn’t just protect your practice—it powers its scalability.

Key Takeaways

• Compliance and growth go hand in hand—when approached proactively, not reactively
• Burnout increases compliance risk—and a team-based approach can reduce both
• MIPS is complex but crucial—mistakes lead to lost revenue, but focus and planning help
• Your EHR and AI tools are underutilized—use them to simplify daily compliance tasks
• Compliance is culture—not a once-a-year checklist

Jacqueline’s #1 Tip for Growing a Practice

When asked for her number one tip for growing a healthcare practice, Jacqueline said:

Growth isn’t about pushing compliance aside. It’s about aligning your people, systems, and goals so that growth and quality move forward together.

Burnout Creates Risk—and Compliance Can Help Prevent It

When compliance is assigned to one person—usually a staff member already wearing too many hats—it often leads to stress, inconsistency, and missed requirements. Jacqueline sees this pattern often, and she argues for a team-based approach instead.

By embedding compliance responsibilities into everyday workflows—and involving the whole team—you not only make the burden lighter, but you also reduce the risk of errors, improve quality scores, and boost staff morale.

Understand MIPS Before It Costs You

One of the most urgent compliance areas for practices today is the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). It’s complex and can feel overwhelming—but as Jacqueline explains, it directly impacts revenue. And mistakes can be expensive.

Her recommendation? Don’t try to do it all. Practices are often tempted to overcommit to dozens of quality measures, but that just adds noise.

This strategic focus, especially when implemented early in the reporting year, gives practices the best chance to succeed.

Technology Can Lighten the Load—If You Use It Right

Jacqueline also sees a huge opportunity in leveraging both EHR systems and AI to simplify compliance and reduce administrative overhead.

That said, she acknowledges the initial fear many have—especially when these tools are new. But her own experience reflects what many practices go through.

From drafting documentation to helping teams track their quality performance in real time, both EHRs and AI tools can transform compliance from a burden into a streamlined part of the clinical workflow.

Compliance Is Culture—Not a Checklist

Jacqueline’s core message is simple: compliance can’t be treated as a once-a-year scramble. It has to become part of the clinic’s DNA. When it’s built into the culture—supported by teamwork, simplified workflows, and smart tools—it no longer feels like a burden. It becomes the engine of stability and growth.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and get practical insights you can apply right away.