AI in Healthcare Marketing: How to Grow Your Medical Practice

Steven Schwartz has a long history in digital marketing, beginning with early experiences in technology and website design. He first became interested in the internet during college and quickly built his own web design company, guiding clients through the changes as the online landscape grew. Over many years, he helped businesses grow their digital presence by offering innovative solutions at every stage.

Later, Steven focused on the medical field by starting Concierge Medical Marketing. This agency is dedicated to helping concierge and direct primary care practices attract more patients online. Recently, he has introduced artificial intelligence tools to make marketing easier for clinics, sharing his expertise through new resources and thought leadership.

Key Takeaways

• Steven Schwartz built his expertise from early web development to modern digital marketing.

• He shifted his focus to help medical practices grow through specialized marketing.

• His latest work brings AI tools and resources to healthcare marketing.

Steven Schwartz’s Path in Online Marketing

Growing Up and School Years

Steven Schwartz grew up in San Pedro, California, where he enjoyed music, drama, and playing the drums in local bands. He started college at UC Santa Barbara but found it overwhelming, so he moved to Humboldt State University in Northern California. There, he discovered a love for math and computer science. During his time at Humboldt, Steven became fascinated with the early days of the internet after seeing a live satellite image of the United States on a college computer.

School Focus Area Notable Experience UC Santa Barbara Initial college choice Found it too large Humboldt State Math & Computer Science Discovered the internet’s potential

Joining the Technology Field

After graduating, Steven moved to the East Coast and worked for a government tech contractor near Washington, DC. He found that working at large companies did not fit his style. Searching for a better path, he started his own web design business from his home.

• Launched a web design business in 1999

• Started by reaching out to local law firms with outdated websites

• Landed his first clients by offering to improve their sites

“I just started putting them on a spreadsheet and would reach out...saying you know hey my name is Steve Schwartz and I provide a service of helping take websites and make them look more professional.”

From Positive Design to PDGO

Steven named his first business Positive Design. As the business grew, he and his team built a custom website content tool so clients could update their own websites easily. This tool, called the PDGO system, was developed before most common website builders existed.

Key Milestones:

• Created the PDGO system, an early content management system

• Offered services like SEO, pay-per-click ads, and email marketing

• Moved to Vero Beach, Florida, and ran the business for over 25 years

Steven responded to changes in the market by selling PDGO in 2024 and starting a new agency focused on medical marketing, specializing in concierge and direct primary care practices. He began using AI technology to help doctors with their marketing efforts, creating the Maddie digital marketing assistant and writing a book about using AI for medical practices.

Growing and Advancing Digital Agencies

Launching Positive Design and Advancing Web Design Methods

Steven started his web design company, Positive Design, from a spare bedroom in 1999. The internet was still new, and most business websites looked simple and outdated. He noticed many law firms in his area with websites that needed improvement.

He put together a list of these firms and reached out by email. His message explained how he could improve their online presence. To his surprise, many firms responded and became his clients.
Steven's focus was on making websites look more professional and easy for clients to use.

Developing a Unique Website Management Platform

A few years into the business, Steven and his team created a custom system so clients could update their own websites without technical skills. There were no popular tools like WordPress or Wix at the time.

They called their platform the PDGO system.
PDGO Features:

• Easy updates for clients

• No technical experience needed

• Affordable custom websites

Clients liked being able to control their own website content. The system saved them time and money. As a result, more businesses wanted this service.

Expanding Services Beyond Web Design

Over time, clients began asking for more than just websites. They wanted their sites to be found online and needed help with new digital tools.

Expanded services included:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)

• Pay-per-click ads

• Review management

• Email and text marketing

• Marketing automation

This allowed Steven's agency to meet more client needs and keep up as digital marketing kept growing and changing.

Service Benefit SEO Improves website visibility PPC Ads Brings quick website traffic Reviews Help Boosts online reputation Email/Text Marketing Connects with clients easily Automation Saves time on marketing tasks

By adding these services, the agency stayed relevant and continued to grow, even as the digital marketing landscape became more competitive.

Shifting Focus to Medical Marketing

Finding the Right Area in Healthcare

Steven Schwartz decided to narrow his digital marketing work to a part of healthcare that was both growing and financially strong. He saw that concierge medical and direct primary care practices needed expert help to grow patient panels and improve their online profile. This led him to study these practices and see where marketing could make a real difference.

• Key Areas Considered

  • Growth potential of the medical field

  • Willingness of practices to invest in marketing

  • The need for specialized digital services

Making a Big Change in 2024

In 2024, Steven made a major business move—he sold his previous agency to a colleague and launched a new agency focused only on medical marketing. This change let him stand out in a crowded market by meeting needs that were not being served well before.

Old Agency New Direction PDGO Web Design Concierge Medical Marketing All Industries Only Medical Practices

• Reason for the Shift: To offer something unique in a growing market

• Outcome: More focused services and new growth opportunities

Expertise in Private Medical and Direct Care

The new agency quickly built a reputation for helping private medical offices with their marketing needs. Steven even created an AI tool named "Maddie" to help doctors with tasks like website content, blogs, emails, and text messages. This special focus gave his team the chance to work closely with practices and help them reach more patients.

Services Offered:

• Content creation for websites and blogs

• Email and text campaign support

• AI assistance for easy automation

This mix of specialized marketing and technology gave concierge and direct care doctors new ways to connect, grow, and succeed.

Using Digital Tools to Attract More Patients

Building a Strong Web Profile for Healthcare Providers

A clear and easy-to-use website helps medical practices look professional online. Many doctors use sites that are simple for patients to navigate and update. This means they can add new info or share changes without needing special tech skills.

Adding things like:

• Quick contact forms

• Maps and location info

• New patient resources

makes it easier for people to choose the right doctor. Good design and clear content encourage visitors to take action.

Customized Digital Strategies for Doctors

Not every doctor’s office is the same, so the marketing approach needs to fit each practice. Some offices may use:

• Search engine optimization (SEO) to show up better in online searches

• Pay-per-click advertising

• Email and text message campaigns

Some practices use special tools, like AI assistants, to help write content and manage online posts. These tools―such as automated digital assistants―can help doctors and staff save time while still reaching more patients.

Issues and Fixes in Getting New Patients

Medical practices sometimes find it hard to attract the right patients in a crowded digital space. Some common problems are:

Challenge Solution Too many choices for digital tools Focus on tools designed for medical practices Hard for patients to find them Improve search rankings and clear web design Not enough time for staff Use automation to handle marketing tasks

By choosing targeted tools and clear methods, practices can reach more people without overwhelming their staff. Automated systems can help handle everyday jobs like sending reminders or creating simple website updates. This lets doctors and nurses focus more on patient care.

Adding AI Tools to Healthcare Marketing

How the AI Assistant “Maddie” Was Created

The team developed a special AI digital marketing helper named Maddie. The name stands for “marketing assistant.” Maddie was made to support healthcare providers, especially those in membership and direct primary care practices. The goal was to give doctors a tool to simplify their digital marketing tasks.

This AI assistant was designed to help practices grow. The idea was to allow healthcare providers to spend less time on marketing and more time on patient care. Maddie helps make this possible by offering practical marketing support.

Using AI to Make and Manage Content

Maddie can write content for websites, blogs, and emails. It can also create messages for text campaigns. By using AI, these tasks are done faster and with less effort from busy healthcare staff.

Here are some tasks Maddie helps with:

• Writing blog articles

• Creating email drip campaigns

• Making text messages for patient outreach

The system offers healthcare teams an easy way to keep their website and communication fresh. This type of automation frees up time for other important practice needs.

AI’s Place in Today’s Membership Healthcare

AI is being used more in membership-based medical practices. These types of practices benefit from tools like Maddie because they must attract and keep patients. Good marketing is key.

A simple table below shows how AI helps membership healthcare offices:

Area How AI Supports It Patient Growth Helps practices attract new members Communication Sends timely emails and messages Branding Produces consistent content

Using AI in marketing has become a smart way for membership-focused clinics to stay current and reach more people.

Steven Schwartz’s Insights and Key Offerings

Launching the Book ‘Ask Maddie’

Steven Schwartz recently authored a guidebook focused on digital marketing using artificial intelligence for membership-based medical practices. This book, written to be clear and practical, introduces doctors and practice managers to Maddie—his custom-built AI marketing assistant. The resource details how to use Maddie to create website copy, blog posts, email sequences, and more, all tailored for healthcare professionals.

Highlights from the book include:

• Step-by-step guidance on using AI for patient outreach

• Examples of effective digital strategies for medical practices

• Tools and checklists for implementing AI-driven marketing

Feature Description AI Marketing Assistant How Maddie supports content creation Tailored to Health Practices Focused examples for concierge and DPC clinics Actionable Worksheets Practical exercises included in the book

Advancing Digital Healthcare Marketing

Steven continues to push for new approaches in healthcare marketing. His most recent work centers on using artificial intelligence to support patient growth for concierge and direct primary care practices. He developed an AI-powered system that helps practices with hands-on tasks, like:

• Creating and scheduling content for websites and blogs

• Automating email and text message campaigns

• Improving visibility for patient acquisition

His direction remains focused on making complex marketing tools simple and accessible, with an eye toward helping medical professionals achieve consistent and effective results.