Your Practice Gets a Real Front Desk. Not a Call Center.
Holistic Practice Management provides dedicated virtual receptionists who learn your practice, your patients, and your systems, scheduling, EMR, email, texts, and more, so nothing falls through the cracks while you focus on care.
See if we're the right fit for your practice.
Your Practice Gets a Real Front Desk. Not a Call Center.
Holistic Practice Management provides dedicated virtual receptionists who learn your practice, your patients, and your systems, scheduling, EMR, email, texts, and more, so nothing falls through the cracks while you focus on care.
See if we're the right fit for your practice.
What Makes Us Different...
From the Inside
Founded by a practicing ND. Staffed by dedicated receptionists who work inside your actual systems, not alongside them.
Every HPM client gets 1-2 receptionists assigned specifically to their practice. They learn your scheduling logic, your EMR, your communication preferences. No handoffs to strangers. No re-explaining yourself every call.
HIPAA-compliant. Healthcare-trained. Built for the way holistic practices actually work.
"We're not just answering calls and pressing buttons. We're really part of the patient's healing journey — that first call, that first connection. And that makes all the difference." — Sherri, HPM Receptionist
Most virtual receptionist services rotate through whoever is available. At HPM, each practice is assigned one or two dedicated receptionists who learn the patients, the schedule, the EMR, and the culture of that specific office. Patients don't know they're calling a remote team — they know they're calling Sher. They send thank-you notes. They ask to be remembered to her. A grandson once called just to say that hearing her voice every time meant the world to him.
That's not a call center. That's a front desk.
Our Team
Dr. Sam Schikowitz:
Founder
Sam Schikowitz, ND, LAc is a practicing naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist, and the founder of Holistic Practice Management. He built HPM in 2006 after experiencing the missed-call problem firsthand in his own practice and realizing his colleagues were dealing with the same thing.
Shantell Willis:
Operations
For 15 years, Shantell has managed the operational side of HPM — ensuring your systems are set up exactly the way you need them. From keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes to answering calls when needed, she's dedicated to making your transition as seamless as possible.
Sherri Scarson:
Client Success
Sherri's the Client Success Manager who trains and oversees our reception teams, stays hands-on with quality day to day, and serves as a direct point of contact for clients who need support. Her focus is making sure providers get their time back.
Your Patients Are in Good Hands
"When parents call, they're like, 'Oh hi Jamie, it's me again' — and I know immediately who their child is. I love having that small doctor's office feel and being part of their life. If a patient is calling and they're having a rough time with their health, we can just be that calm voice to get them an appointment scheduled so they feel a lot better knowing they're going to be in good hands soon. It's not just a number. I call them by name. I treat them like they'd be right in front of me."
Jamie has been with HPM for a year and still works with every doctor she started with. That's not an accident — it's how HPM is built. Each receptionist is assigned to a small, consistent group of practices, so the relationships have room to grow. She knows the patients. She knows how each doctor runs their office. And when someone calls frustrated or scared, she knows how to meet them where they are. Seven kids of her own will do that.
"I absolutely love all of my patients and I treat them like they'd be right in front of me." — Jamie, HPM Receptionist
What Makes HPM Different:
Founded by a practicing ND. Staffed by dedicated receptionists who work inside your actual systems, not alongside them.
Every HPM client gets 1-2 receptionists assigned specifically to their practice. They learn your scheduling logic, your EMR, your communication preferences. No handoffs to strangers. No re-explaining yourself every call.
HIPAA-compliant. Healthcare-trained. Built for the way holistic practices actually work.
Services
Dedicated Receptionists,
Not a Call Center
Your practice is assigned 1–2 receptionists who learn your protocols, your patients, and your preferences. The same familiar voice, every time.
Your Systems, Fully Covered
EMR, scheduling, patient email, text platforms — your receptionists work inside the tools you already use, not around them.
Inbound Calls &
Patient Communication
Every call answered professionally, every message handled correctly. New patient inquiries, appointment changes, follow-ups — managed with clinical context, not a generic script.
Administrative Support & Custom Projects
Need help beyond the phones? Your team can handle administrative tasks, patient outreach, and practice support projects — whatever your front desk should be doing but isn't.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"It gives me time freedom and peace of mind. I would just say don't even bother to look anywhere else."
"Run, don't walk to sign up. It is an economical way to get support for as much or as little time as is needed. The front desk staff get naturopathic medicine — they understand our medicine, and they understand how to answer questions to patients. HPM is not like an answering service. HPM is more like your receptionist. Even though they are not in the office, it's real time communication and they're always available as if they are. It gives me my time back. It gives me time freedom and it gives me peace of mind."
HPM clients describe something they didn't expect when they signed up: a genuine partner at the front desk. Not a call center rotating through unfamiliar voices, but a dedicated receptionist who knows the practice, knows the patients, and shows up every day. For holistic and naturopathic physicians who built their practices around personal care, that consistency matters — in the waiting room and on the phone.
"She is the face of my office. I feel like I can just breathe much more easily knowing that I have that support."
"Run, don't walk to sign up. The front desk staff get naturopathic medicine — they understand our medicine, they understand how to answer questions to patients, they understand the EMR. Implementing Holistic Practice Management has been a complete game changer for my quality of life and for the ease of running a business. My patients come into my office thinking they're going to meet her — not knowing she's not physically here — but they have relationships with her. She knows my practice. She knows how to triage my patients. She makes sure the most important things are at the top of my list. When something changes in my schedule or I'm raising my rates or something really big is happening with my practice, she's the first person I think of telling. Because she is the face of my office."
Dr. Michelle Half, ND, LAC, President, NH Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Dr. Michelle Half is a naturopathic doctor, certified acupuncturist, and president of the New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors. She's been with HPM for five years — and she'll tell you she wishes she'd started sooner. For practitioners who are still building their practices, she points to something most don't expect: because HPM bills by the minute, the cost scales with how busy you are. No slow month ever has to feel like dead overhead.
"It is like they are here in my office with me."
"That impression with the person that answers the phone really is an example of who I am and how I practice medicine. Even though they aren't sitting at my front desk, it is like they are here in my office with me. Patients get to know them, and they get to know the patients as well. Having HPM has been crucial to my practice."
Dr. Christina Hinchcliffe, ND
Dr. Hinchcliffe has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 2001, training alongside integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Jonathan Wright at the Tacoma Clinic before building her own patient-centered practice on Bainbridge Island. She came to HPM on the recommendation of a fellow naturopathic physician — and has relied on the team every day since. HPM handles her calls, scheduling, patient communications, coordination with other providers and pharmacies, and works directly in her EMR, without her changing a thing about how she practices.
I’ve been a happy customer!
I’ve been working with HPM for the most part of six years. Every new person you introduce to the flow of your business requires training, but HPM has truly made themselves indispensable to my growing practice over the years. I’ve looked into other answering services, mostly out of curiosity, and what others offer doesn’t come close to the experience you get with HPM. We’ve had a few technical difficulties over the years, and they have always made resolving the few issues that have come up a top priority. I’ve been a happy customer!
Maegan N. Hodge, L.Ac.
Successfully manages all my virtual tasks!
My private practice would not be successful without the unrelenting support of Holistic Practice Management. My virtual team successfully manages all my virtual tasks such as appointment bookings & reminders, EMR tasks, patient calls, calendar updates, and website marketing tasks. HPM’s remote receptionist services have given my patients a quality front desk experience at a fraction of the cost of an on-site employee.
As my practice has become increasingly successful, I opened an integrative medical center over 3 years after incorporating HPM into my workflow. My center now has 8 practitioners which HPM promotes to potential callers and management of our digital thermography imaging service. Due to the cost-effectiveness and work flow efficiency by HPM, I have only needed to hire a part-time office manager to greet patients, support the practitioners, and manage in-house center tasks.
HPM is the best cheerleaders for promoting one’s practice. They care a great deal about keeping their clients and their patients’ happy and helping everyone succeed. HPM is the new wave of managing healthcare practices.
Payal Bhandari M.D.
Extremely accommodating and professional
Since opening my own clinic almost a year ago Holistic Practice Management has been an integral part of my business. From day one their staff has been nothing short of amazing. They walked me though the whole process and made sure we were all on the same page. HPM paired me up with an administrative team that is a perfect fit. They are extremely accommodating and professional, I get positive feedback from my patients all the time. Every task I have assigned them has been completed quickly and efficiently.
Aside from their excellent service I feel like I have established a personal relationship with both of them. I appreciate and respect them and know they have my best interest in mind. They support me through the daily challenges of running my own business. I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.
Dr. Ashley Olberg
Using HPM for nearly 6 years!
I have been using Holistic Practice Management for nearly 6 years and I don’t know what I’d do without them! Debbie has been my virtual receptionist the entire time, and the continuity of always having her there, even while in-office personnel have changed, is so helpful. She is incredibly professional, knows and understands my business, learns quickly if I need to make changes, and most importantly my patients love her! This is not your average answering service. Debbie feels like part of the team, even though I’ve never met her in person. I love that I can use the service for only the hours I need it, and I can change that weekly, if needed. Over the years, that has been extremely handy!
Dr. Ruth Galbraith
All the Benefits of a Front Desk.
None of the Overhead.
HPM scales with your practice: busier when you need us, lighter on your bill when things slow down.
No sick days, no vacation gaps, no coverage emergencies.
And because your receptionists are our employees, we handle everything on the backend: hiring, training, management, payroll, taxes, and insurance.
You just answer your patients.
Security & Compliance You Can Trust
Fully Certified Healthcare Communication Provider
HPM is fully compliant with federal telecommunications and healthcare regulations, implementing advanced security and authentication technology that protects your practice and patients.
HIPAA-Compliant Communications
Every call, message, and patient interaction is handled according to federal privacy law.
A Business Associate Agreement is included with every HPM service agreement.
Your Data Stays Private
Advanced security and authentication technology protects patient information at every touchpoint: calls, messages, and records.
Government-Verified Provider
HPM operates as a registered FCC 499 telecommunications company, meeting the highest federal standards for healthcare communication.
Your Calls Actually Reach Patients
HPM is FCC-certified and STIR/SHAKEN authenticated, meaning your number is verified, spam-filter approved, and protected against spoofing. Patients see your practice name, not an unknown caller.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes HPM Different?
HPM is not a call center. You get 1–2 dedicated receptionists who learn your practice, your patients, and your protocols, and show up the same way every day. No rotating pool, no generic scripts, no strangers picking up your phone.
Who started HPM and why?
HPM was founded in 2006 by Dr. Sam Schikowitz, a practicing naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist. He built it to solve a problem he experienced firsthand in his own practice, and quickly realized his colleagues were dealing with the same thing. Nearly two decades later, HPM supports holistic and integrative practices nationwide, led by Operations Manager Shantell Willis and Client Success Manager Sherri Scarson.
How much does HPM cost?
HPM's pricing is based on actual usage. You pay an industry-low per minute receptionist rate, so your bill reflects your real call volume rather than a flat fee whether we're busy or not. Pricing varies based on services and volume; contact us for a quote tailored to your practice size.
What does HPM provide?
You get a dedicated phone number (or we can port your existing one), a full-featured enterprise phone system, and 1–2 receptionists assigned specifically to your practice. They handle calls, scheduling, patient communication, and administrative support based on a custom manual we build together during onboarding.
Are there long-term contracts?
No. We earn your business every month. Adjust or cancel anytime. No termination fees, no penalties.
What does setup look like?
Once you sign the service agreement, the process typically takes about two weeks:
1. Onboarding call with our operations team to learn your practice and call-handling preferences
2. Custom manual built around your protocols: you review and refine until it's right
3. Training and system configuration for your dedicated receptionist team
4. Go live
What's included in my fees?
Your service includes a local or toll-free number, a full-featured enterprise phone system, and a dedicated reception team trained on your specific practice. We can port your existing number and in many cases eliminate your current phone bill entirely.
Is every call answered every time?
Our receptionists handle one conversation at a time, which means occasionally a call goes to voicemail if they're with another patient. Callbacks typically happen within minutes. That's the tradeoff for real, informed conversations instead of instant answers from someone reading a generic script.
What systems do you work with?
If we can log into it, we can work with it. EMR, scheduling platforms, patient portals, text systems... whatever your practice runs on.
Are your receptionists HIPAA-trained?
Yes. Staff are trained in HIPAA compliance and we operate on a secured, HIPAA-compliant Google Workspace environment. A Business Associate Agreement is included with every service agreement.
How do I reach my team once I'm a client?
Your receptionists have dedicated email addresses on our HIPAA-compliant platform. You'll have direct access to your team throughout the day.
Do you offer fax services or desk phones?
Yes! Electronic fax and desk phones are available for a low additional monthly fee.
Do you offer after-hours coverage?
Not currently. Calls outside your coverage hours can be routed to voicemail, an answering service of your choice, or directly to you, whatever works best for your practice.
THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE
Getting Started:
Fill out our intake forms so we understand how your practice works. We'll create a custom online manual and schedule a training session with your dedicated team of two receptionists - one for mornings, one for evenings.
Your Dedicated Team:
Unlike other services that rotate staff, you get the same two hand-picked, professionally trained receptionists who will learn your practice, your patients by name, and deliver the personalized service you'd expect from in-house staff.
Flexible Phone System:
Forward your existing practice number to our system - no need to change it! Our advanced technology lets you direct calls wherever needed: to our reception team, a phone in your office, or even your cell. Plus, when you call patients, they'll see your office number on caller ID, not your personal cell.
Works With Your Existing Staff:
Already have in-house team members? Perfect! We reduce their task load by handling calls, allowing them to focus on patient care and office management. When they're out of the office, you can rest assured every call is answered professionally.
No Long-Term Commitment:
There's no lengthy contract. If you're not happy after the first month, let us know.
Ready to learn more?
Call or email us today to see if Holistic Practice Management is right for your practice!