There is always room for improvement in every medical practice, which can vary from identifying missed medical opportunities to cutting out unnecessary expenditures. Each improvement will create a more efficient environment, which will increase patient standards, satisfaction, and outcomes.
If you want your practice to set the healthcare standard, you must look for ways to eliminate inefficiencies, support communication, and improve recovery rates. Get started by reading this mini guide to improving your medical practice.
Improve Patient Flow
Every medical practice must have an efficient schedule in place. Never compromise on care by spreading out appointments while ensuring the time frame is manageable for physicians. Most doctors can treat an average of four patients per hour, and some appointments will be quicker or longer than others. A strict schedule will allow physicians to treat every patient without sacrificing quality care.
Send Appointment Reminders
No-show appointments and cancellations will interrupt a doctor’s schedule, create a backlog of patients, and may cause an absent patient’s health to deteriorate. Encourage patients to attend scheduled appointments by introducing an effective appointment reminder system into your operations.
The automated texts, auto calls, and postcards may prevent a patient from forgetting about a scheduled appointment. It will save the practice time and money while caring for a patient’s medical needs. Visit Brevium (https://www.brevium.com/integrated-reminders-and-recalls/) for more information on integrated reminders and recalls.
Group Activities
Improve efficiency and take pressure off your staff by grouping tasks together at your practice. For example, you could run a vaccination clinic over the weekend to encourage patients to receive immunizations, such as the Covid-19 or flu vaccine.
It will allow your practice to welcome an average of 15 patients per hour, as they can attend a quick appointment that caters to their requirements. It will free up time throughout the week to provide essential screenings, manage chronic diseases, and diagnose and treat patient illnesses or injuries.
Recruit Employees Wisely
The physicians, nurses, and administrative staff you hire will determine your practice’s reputation, outcomes, and satisfaction rates. It is easier to hire a troublesome staff member than to fire one. A lazy, negative, or unskilled employee can increase your team’s workload and stress while wasting the practice’s money.
Protect your practice and, in turn, your patients by hiring the right person for a vacancy. In addition to ensuring they have the appropriate qualifications and skills for the job, they must possess the correct attitude, soft skills, and hard work ethic to flourish in the role.
Protect Your Employees’ Health
Your employees will likely face significant pressure in their roles, from dealing with frustrated or rude patients to juggling many tasks. For this reason, you must look for ways to protect their health and wellbeing, such as:
- Encouraging them to share their worries or frustrations
- Providing helpful solutions to problems
- Outsourcing tasks during busy periods
- Encouraging communication between employees
- Planning team-building activities and events
The above tactics could lower your employees’ stress levels, avoid burnout, and prevent staff absenteeism, allowing your practice to maintain its high standards.
