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The Six Most Common
Roadblocks To an Extraordinary Practice
When
consulting with clients, I am repeatedly given the opportunity to observe what
makes the difference between an average practice and a truly extraordinary
practice. Universally, patterns emerge.
Time after time I find that there are six basic tools that are employed
in more successful, modern practices.
Conversely, these tools are almost always missing from offices that fail
to reach their full potential.
Change in
modern private health care practice has occurred rapidly, and systems that
contributed to success as recently as five years ago may now be ineffective and
obsolete. In order to create
a modern, flourishing practice, doctors must take advantage of contemporary
tools and techniques. The good
news is that these tools are accessible to all who want to invest a little time
and effort.
What are some of the most common roadblocks to successful
chiropractic practice management?
- Roadblock
One: The absence of a
cyclical calendar of events and promotions.
Every office should have a detailed,
comprehensive calendar of events and promotions. This should be a core system. The competitive nature of today’s private practice makes
this tool mandatory. The calendar enables both the staff and the doctor to know
exactly what is expected on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, providing
everyone with the knowledge necessary to effectively execute the plan, and
allowing everyone to keep an eye on progress toward short and long-term goals.
A calendar system can be something as simple as a pencil on
paper. The good news is that once
this is effectively developed, the calendar can be used as a template year
after year, with only minor modifications.
- Roadblock Two: Haphazard Hiring Practices
Many doctors encounter, or more accurately, create roadblocks related to hiring
practices and staffing. Conducting
hiring in a haphazard way is a recipe for trouble.
Prior to beginning the hiring process, you should have a
procedure in place, designed to ensure you find and hire only the best
candidate. Put these procedures in
writing, so that you and your team know what to do.
Your procedures should include requirements like performing
background checks and screening references. Doctors who choose to skip these steps in order to save time
and hire quickly are inviting potential chaos into their offices. Failing to appropriately screen
candidates can create huge problems.
Remember, it is your responsibility to your other team members to make
sure that any new employees you bring onto the team have the inherent capacity
to contribute to the success of the team as the practice grows and
expands. Don’t hire a
problem. Ensure that you are
hiring help for your team members by creating good hiring procedures and
adhering to them.
- Roadblock Three:
Reimbursement Issues
You cannot survive if you fail to pay close enough attention
to your Finance Department. If you choose to participate in any third-party
plans, you must thoroughly understand what constitute covered and non-covered
services, exactly what the expected reimbursement will be, and how long it will
take for you to be reimbursed. You also need to be sure that your participation
in these plans will not automatically obligate you to participate in other
plans without your knowledge and consent.
Don't make the mistake of failing to put a system in place
for collecting payment from self-pay patients, or for collecting on non-covered
services. This is where you really need to do your homework. You must
thoroughly understand what patients today are looking for in a doctor, and you
must know what services they will gladly pay for.
- Roadblock Four: Patient
Report of Findings and Care Plans
This is another potential obstacle. Significant attention
must be paid to how the patient report of findings and care plans are presented
to the patient and administered. Right from the start, your entire team needs
to communicate to the patient that compliance with your recommendations is
essential if the patient expects to achieve a good result. Simply, truthfully
and thoroughly explain to the patient why you have suggested a particular
treatment plan.
Thoroughness during the patient's first visit has a huge
impact on a patient's future compliance. Perform any essential diagnostic tests
before treating your patients, regardless of third-party incentives not to do
so. Patients and their families long remember the doctor who makes an accurate
diagnosis, and who presents a care plan that gets the patient better within
reasonable a time frame and within the patient's financial parameters.
- Roadblock Five: Failing to Give Patients the Big
Picture
A component of practice that often seems to be forgotten
today is ensuring that you are giving patients the “big picture” of
health. In order for a doctor to
be effective, the doctor must live the message they are attempting to communicate. This
includes practicing and advocating lifestyles and systems of health care that
promote long-term health, fitness, overall life satisfaction and personal
fulfillment.
Some of these components may include the practice of well
patient care, dietary supplements, massage, fitness programs and physical
therapy. The doctor and his or her
team must be effective at sharing this extraordinarily valuable information
with their family and friends, children, and the community at large.
- Roadblock Six: Failing to Make Time For You
One of the biggest factors that leads to burn out and
dissatisfaction among doctors in practice stems from not having enough time
away from the office. The reality
is that maintaining a private practice is extremely physically and
psychologically demanding. It
taxes your mental and emotional capacities. There is no way that you or I will
ever perform to our fullest potential if we are not rested and completely
healthy.
Strive to become more efficient in every aspect of your
practice management. Your goal
should be to increase your efficiency and effectiveness in the office so that
with each passing year you see more patients in less time. This will allow you to take a more
balanced approach toward work and personal time. You can then pursue other interests in your time off that help
to keep you fresh and passionate about what you do, for many years to come.
Keep in mind
that failure to think critically about all of these issues and their long-term
impact on your personal goals and lifestyle will have a significant impact on
many areas of your life.
This is why
I continually advocate that the doctors of the future must continue to Practice
by Design ™, not by
default.
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