029 - The Membership Model: A Smarter Approach to Patient Care - The Health & Wellness Marketing Show

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029 - The Membership Model: A Smarter Approach to Patient Care

March 18, 2025 • 50 mins

Are you tired of the feast-or-famine cycle in your practice? One month, you have plenty of new patients... and you focus all your time on patient care instead of marketing your practice. Next month? It's crickets, and you focus all your time on enrolling new patients. In this episode of the Health and Wellness Marketing Show, Uli Iserloh sat down with Dr. Linda Matteoli, founder of Origins Functional Medicine and Origins Incubator, to explore the membership model – a game-changing shift in healthcare. Dr. Mattioli shared how she built a thriving membership-based practice, scaling to 100 members in her first year, and how this approach provides financial stability, deeper patient relationships, and better health outcomes. In addition, Uli "quizzed" Linda on how she conducts her Foundational Assessment (the first paid appointment), and what she includes so that patients commit to the subsequent membership. If you’re a practitioner looking for a sustainable way to grow your practice while delivering exceptional care, this episode is for you! Listen to learn:

Discover why the membership model offers a more predictable income stream and better patient outcomes compared to fee-for-service and package-based models.
Learn how to structure a membership that goes beyond visit-based care and truly supports a patient’s healing journey.
Understand the key components of a successful membership—including education, support, and personalization—that keep patients engaged and invested.
Find out how to transition from fee-for-service to a membership model without overwhelming yourself or your patients.
Explore the four stages of practice growth and what steps to take at each stage to build a sustainable, scalable membership-based business.

Quotes to Remember:

“A membership model isn’t just about visit – it’s a healing container that allows you to guide patients through their entire journey.” (04:15 | Dr. Matteoli)
“If patients don’t see a clear path to progress, they drop off. The membership model creates a long-term partnership in their healing.” (12:39 | Dr. Matteoli)
“You need to price your membership at a level where within a few months, you’re out of the red.” (52:44 | Dr. Matteoli)
“More patients stay engaged when they feel supported – not just with appointments, but with education, accountability, and community.” (06:52 | Dr. Matteoli)

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