Episode 40 - Scaling Ketamine Clinics: From Pilot to Five Locations with Dr. Nico Grundmann
Emergency physician Dr. Nico Grundmann shares his journey from ER doctor to CEO, scaling Ember Health from one pilot location to five ketamine clinics across New York City.
Most doctors dream about leaving the ER grind, but here's what's remarkable: Dr. Nico Grundmann didn't just escape - he built something that's actually changing how we think about mental healthcare at scale.
In this conversation, Sam sits down with Dr. Grundmann, an emergency physician who took his systems-thinking background and created something unprecedented: a five-location ketamine practice that's generating the kind of data insurance companies actually pay attention to. We're talking about going from solo practitioner to managing 30 team members while maintaining the clinical rigor that makes this work sustainable.
What makes this conversation essential listening? Dr. Grundmann's approach shows exactly how individual practices can drive policy-level change - but it requires thinking beyond your patient panel to the broader healthcare system. His story proves that with the right framework, you can build something that's both profitable and positioned to influence national coverage decisions.
If you've ever wondered how to scale beyond a single clinic without losing clinical quality, or if you're curious about what it really takes to collect data that insurance companies respect, this conversation will give you the roadmap you need.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
The mindset shifts required when moving from ER medicine to longitudinal ketamine therapy practice
Clinical evidence behind protocol decisions including the 4 vs 6 infusion debate and IV superiority data
Systematic approach to scaling from single pilot site to five-location practice with team management insights
Insurance advocacy through data collection and the long-term strategy for coverage expansion
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the discussion on YouTube here.
Episode 40 show notes:
00:00 Teaser - Ketamine isn’t Treat-And-Release
00:22 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast
00:29 Interview with Dr. Nico Gruman
01:42 Dr. Gruman's Background and Journey
04:28 Founding Ember Health
05:50 Scaling the Practice
06:29 Challenges and Strategies
07:24 Building a Collaborative Care Model
09:10 Pilot Site and Early Days
16:45 Navigating Insurance and Policy
19:10 Advice for Aspiring Clinic Owners
27:01 Longitudinal Care and Patient Relationships
32:35 Hands-On Training and Patient Care
33:47 The Importance of Patient Trust
35:14 Patient Onboarding Process
36:54 Treatment Protocols and Success Rates
38:12 Long-Term Care and Maintenance
40:17 Debate on Treatment Frequency
43:07 Mechanisms of Ketamine
47:10 Route of Administration and Safety
51:59 Advice for New Practitioners
54:07 Personal Insights and Hobbies
01:00:02 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Thanks for listening
Connect with Dr. Grundmann:
Selected Links From the Episode: