Commentary
Video
Evolving with Your Practice: Insight from Thriving Primary Care Practices
Derrike Retzlaff, customer success manager at Elation Health, explores how independent primary care practices can evolve and thrive by aligning technology with their values and workflows.
Growing a practice isn’t just about seeing more patients — it’s about evolving workflows, managing complexity and staying true to the mission of patient-centered care. In “Evolving with Your Practice: Insights from Thriving Primary Care Practices with Elation Health,” part of Medical Economics’ September 2025 Practice Academy, Derrike Retzlaff shared case studies that reveal how practices can scale while preserving independence and quality.
From a solo family physician in Connecticut who launched his county’s first new independent practice in years, to a Nevada clinic balancing Medicare Advantage with fee-for-service billing, to a multi-site enterprise serving more than 250,000 patients, Retzlaff highlighted real-world examples of practices overcoming administrative strain with clinical-first technology. AI-powered tools, he explained, are helping physicians reclaim hours each week once lost to documentation and billing, while integrated platforms are reducing vendor juggling and financial uncertainty.
Independence is possible at every stage of practice growth — if the right systems are in place. Practices that align technology with their values don’t just survive change; they thrive, building stronger patient relationships and more sustainable care models.
About the presenter
Derrike Retzlaff, customer success manager, Elation Health
Derrike has worked in health care technology since 2015, bringing just over a decade of experience supporting provider organizations and health systems. His work spans client success, product adoption and operational strategy, with a focus on building strong partnerships that drive real-world impact.
Derrike believes that technology should meet people where they are, not the other way around - a philosophy that guides his approach to solving problems and supporting clients. Whether helping a small clinic streamline operations or guiding enterprise-level change, he's motivated by making the complex feel simple and actionable.
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