When it comes to urgent care, Dr. Josh Russell is the real deal. Chief Medical Officer at UCP Merchant Medicine, editor of UC Max and CorePendium, AI advisor, board-certified medical editor, and now host of the new podcast The Focused Exam—Dr. Russell brings the rare mix of clinical excellence, tech-savvy, and straight-up curiosity that today’s medical landscape desperately needs.

In this episode, Nick and Michael sit down with Dr. Russell to explore the real-world impact of AI in urgent care and how tools like Intellivisit are redefining patient flow, documentation, and burnout. From automating charting and streamlining care delivery to teaching clinicians how to embrace a growth mindset, Josh unpacks how AI—when done right—can help bring humanity back to medicine.

And yes, we also talk DJ names, Jeopardy dreams, and the one thing patients really want (but rarely ask for) in a visit.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🧑‍🏫 Why “doctor” still means “teacher”—and how patient education drives retention💻 How Intellivisit is reshaping workflow, documentation, and decision support⏳ What AI can (and can’t) do to fix burnout and reclaim time with patients🩺 Why the biggest shift clinicians need to make isn’t technical—it’s mental🎧 How Dr. Russell is using DJing, podcasting, and entrepreneurship to beat burnout and expand what it means to be a modern physician

🧠 About Our Guest:Dr. Josh Russell is the Chief Medical Officer at UCP Merchant Medicine, a board-certified emergency physician, medical editor, and host of the upcoming podcast The Focused Exam. With deep experience in clinical care, AI-powered workflow design, health tech strategy, and physician coaching, Dr. Russell is on a mission to rewire what success looks like for modern clinicians. He’s also a trivia enthusiast, aspiring Jeopardy contestant, and hobbyist DJ under the name Ultra Sound. No, really.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Learn more about Intellivisit → intellivisit.com

• Explore Josh’s work and podcast → thefocusedexam.com

• Connect with Dr. Josh Russell on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/joshua-russell-md

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  Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

  
  

  🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith:

  https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

This week’s episode features a clip from our recent webinar, The Cost of Digital Marketing — a deep dive into what urgent care owners and operators really need to know about marketing budgets in 2026.

We’re breaking down the dollars, data, and decisions that drive real growth — not just clicks.

We cover:

💰 Why marketing costs are rising even with AI on the scene
📈 How to budget smarter for awareness, conversion, and retention
🌐 Why your website is your digital brick-and-mortar — and what it should actually cost
🔍 How to find your ad spend “sweet spot” without wasting dollars
⚙️ The systems that separate sustainable growth from guesswork
💡 Common mistakes clinics make (and how to fix them before next year)

If you’re setting your marketing budget for 2026, this episode will help you make confident, informed decisions — and understand exactly where your money should be going.

🎙️ Don’t miss what’s next: Join our upcoming live webinar on Thursday, November 20, where we’ll dig into Value vs. Vanity Metrics — how to stop chasing empty numbers

Register here: https://webinars.patientcaremarketingpros.com/value-vs-vanity

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

Access the webinar: https://webinars.patientcaremarketingpros.com/cost-of-marketing

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

When most people talk about AI in healthcare, the conversation gets crowded fast—hype, fear, jargon, and yet another “innovative solution.” But for Justin Mardjuki, CEO of Savant, the focus is simple: help urgent care teams deliver better care, faster, with less stress—and actually connect with patients again.

In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Justin to explore how Savant is putting a truly human spin on clinical AI. From reducing documentation burdens and improving chart quality to making EMR integration less painful, Savant is doing more than just talk about outcomes—they’re proving them, chart by chart, shift by shift.

You’ll hear how AI can empower clinicians, boost billing accuracy, and improve the patient experience—without taking over the exam room. We also talk about real adoption barriers, AI fatigue, and what it actually takes to change behavior in a system built on routine.

This one’s packed with smart takes, real examples, and a grounded perspective on the future of AI in urgent care.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🧾 Why AI-powered documentation is more than just a “nice to have”📉 How to reduce late charts and missed billing opportunities without EMR overhauls🧠 What it really takes to get clinicians to trust and adopt new tech👁️ How AI is helping bring back eye contact and real conversation at the point of care🚀 Why seeing is believing—and how 100 charts can change your workflow for good

🧠 About Our Guest:

Justin Mardjuki is the Co-Founder and CEO of Savant, a clinical AI platform purpose-built for acute care. With a background in healthcare tech and leadership roles at companies like Box and Lifeline, Justin brings both the innovation mindset of Silicon Valley and the practical understanding of frontline medical challenges. Together with his team (including a co-founder who’s an emergency doc), he’s helping urgent care clinics chart faster, bill better, and bring humanity back to medicine.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Visit Savant → sayvant.com

• Connect with Justin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mardjuki/

• Learn more about the company → https://www.linkedin.com/company/sayvant/

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

When most people talk urgent care, they talk speed, efficiency, and volume. But for Megan Bell—Director of Enterprise Performance Excellence at FastMed—leading 44 clinics across North Carolina means something deeper.

In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Megan to explore what it really takes to build strong culture, foster true team connection, and lead with intentionality in today’s high-pressure healthcare landscape. With a background that spans creative agencies, corporate mentoring, higher education, and healthcare operations, Megan brings a one-of-a-kind leadership perspective to the urgent care space. She champions what she calls “Graceful Leadership”—a powerful blend of communication, empathy, and confident presence—and shares how that mindset is transforming culture and performance across FastMed.

From scaling team energy across dozens of locations to the underrated value of fun, productive meetings, this episode is packed with insights for urgent care leaders, operators, and rising healthcare professionals looking to create real impact from the inside out.

We talk about the power of creative thinking, what happens when you prioritize people over processes, and why leading with joy isn’t a gimmick—it’s a strategy.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🏥 What it takes to build and protect clinic culture across 44 urgent care locations🎯 Why clear, consistent communication is the foundation of strong leadership🧠 How creative energy and storytelling skills transfer into healthcare operations🤝 Why empathy, vulnerability, and fun matter more than job titles🚀 What “Graceful Leadership” really means—and how it can empower your team

🧠 About Our Guest:

Megan Bell is the Director of Enterprise Performance Excellence at FastMed, where she leads strategic initiatives across 44 North Carolina-based urgent care clinics. A versatile leader with a background in higher education, creative agencies, and corporate training, Megan thrives at the intersection of project management, communication, and culture. Her signature leadership approach—Graceful Leadership—emphasizes empathy, confidence, self-awareness, and inclusion. She’s passionate about helping people grow and believes trust, respect, and fun are non-negotiables in successful teams.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

Connect with Megan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganrbell/

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

Nick and Michael are breaking down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in urgent care growth: the difference between brand-driven growth and service-driven growth — and why playing in the wrong lane can quietly drain your clinic's potential.

Whether you're running a multi-location chain or a single-location startup, this episode will help you diagnose what's really driving (or stalling) your patient volume.

Drawing from real conversations, discovery calls, and lessons from 200+ episodes, Nick and Michael unpack:

🏢 The two urgent care growth models — and why each demands a different strategy

💸 Why small clinics shouldn't try to “look big” (and what to focus on instead)

📉 What happens when big clinics forget about patient experience

🚦 The critical lever that separates a slow bleed from sustainable growth

👥 How reputation, reviews, and real service can outpace brand dollars

⚙️ Systemizing care, scaling operations, and when your culture starts to crack

This one is packed with real talk, real stats, and real strategy — delivered in classic Nick and Michael style. It’s a must-listen for clinic owners asking the hard questions about scale, service, and staying power in a saturated market.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Urgent Care Association: https://urgentcareassociation.org/
• Expeirty Care Agent: https://www.experityhealth.com/news/experity-launches-care-agent-the-first-clinical-intelligence-solution-for-urgent-care/
• Learn about Patient Care Marketing Pros' 90-Day Patient Acquisition Framework: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com/schedule-a-call/

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

When most clinics talk growth, they talk volume. But at Denver Health’s Peña Urgent Care, leadership means something deeper. In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Dr. Lindsey Fish—Medical Director, educator, researcher, and community leader—to explore what it really means to deliver care where it’s needed most.

With over a decade of hands-on experience serving underserved populations, Dr. Fish shares how her clinic, embedded within a safety-net system, balances high acuity care with compassion, equity, and resilience. From federally qualified funding structures to a radically human-first approach to leadership, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a side of urgent care that’s often unseen—but incredibly impactful.

We talk about the growing importance of primary care, how urgent care and academic medicine intersect, and why true healthcare transformation starts by listening—to both patients and providers.

This episode is full of insight for healthcare leaders, clinicians, and operators who believe in building something bigger than business.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn🏥 What it’s like to run one of the nation’s largest FQHC-affiliated urgent cares❤️ Why emotional burdens—not clinical challenges—are often the hardest part of patient care📊 How federally funded clinics balance reporting, quality, and access for underserved patients🤝 Why leadership in healthcare must prioritize team support, culture, and burnout prevention🎒 How grassroots community outreach—like backpack drives and trunk-or-treats—becomes real marketing

🧠 About Our GuestDr. Lindsey Fish is the Medical Director of Peña Urgent Care Clinic at Denver Health and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. With over 10 years of experience running a high-acuity FQHC urgent care that sees 27,000+ visits annually, Dr. Fish is a respected leader in clinical operations, underserved care, and medical education.
She’s also a published researcher, national speaker, Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, and board member for both the College of Urgent Care Medicine and the Urgent Care College of Physicians.
When she’s not leading teams or training the next generation of clinicians, you’ll find her skiing, hiking, or exploring the Colorado mountains with her family.

🔗 Resources & MentionsConnect with Dr. Fish → LinkedIn

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Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

This week’s episode features a clip from our recent webinar, From Summer Slump to Seasonal Surge: Marketing Strategies that Drive Patient Volume from Fallto Spring, on navigating urgent care seasonality and paid ad strategy — and it’s all about helping your clinic stay ahead during the busiest months of the year.

We break down:

🍂 Why patient volume spikes from fall through early spring
🎣 The “fisherman” analogy — why this is the time to cast a bigger net, not pull back
👥 How to prepare your team for the busy season and keep morale high
💻 Why Google Ads remain the lifeblood of patient acquisition
🎯 How to target the right patients with timely, relevant messages
📅 Matching your campaigns to the season — from flu shots to holiday hours

If your clinic is heading into peak season, this episode will help you make the most of every opportunity — not just by staying busy, but by building long-term patient growth.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

Access the webinar: https://offer.patientcaremarketingpros.com/diy-toolkit

💬 Stay Connected:

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes content.

Website: https://patientcaremarketingpros.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patientcaremarketingpros

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patient-care-marketing-pros/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ

🎉 200 Episodes of Walk-Ins Welcome: From Startup Struggles to Industry Impact

Nick and Michael are in the studio for a special milestone: 200 episodes of Walk-Ins Welcome. What started with a Yeti mic and GarageBand has become a go-to podcast in the urgent care space — and today, they’re reflecting on what’s changed, what’s working, and what’s next.

This isn’t just a look back — it’s a masterclass in how consistent content, real conversations, and industry advocacy can fuel clinic growth and marketing clarity.

In this celebratory (and surprisingly actionable) episode, Nick and Michael unpack:

🎧 The origin story: Why they launched the podcast in 2021 (and almost quit)📈 What the data says: Top episodes, engagement trends, and listener insights🏥 How the podcast sparked client growth, urgent care connections, and real change📞 The Front Desk Evolution: From throwaway role to business-critical function💡 Why the future of urgent care is collaboration, not competition📹 Behind the scenes: studio upgrades, lessons learned, and awkward early episodes

Plus, they reveal what’s coming in 2026 — and it might just change how urgent cares across the country support each other.

This episode is packed with honest reflections, hilarious throwbacks, and forward-thinking strategy — all wrapped in gratitude for the listeners, clients, and community that made 200 episodes possible.

If you’ve ever felt like your work isn’t being seen, this is proof that showing up consistently does create impact. Thanks for being on the journey.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Episode 3: https://youtu.be/4YNhuyWEba4

• Episode 98: https://youtu.be/7lkaOLj7bss

• Episode 197: https://youtu.be/UN6IrRknKgg

• • Most-Played Episode: Front Desk Evolution (Live from Dallas) https://youtu.be/VqyNJRB-M-k

  
  

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  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nwkAwIyiVvsLTWGoeRbWA

  
  

  Want to be a guest, recommend someone for the show, or ask a question? Reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@patientcaremarketingpros.com

  
  

  🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Devin Smith: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UdQjNXnACFE2VpkEoP8v2?si=pDx5jsgtRFOtwrpMOKOkuQ