Navigating Your Career

Advice on Breaking Into Private Practice
Adapted from Q&A session at Winter AAD 2014 Question: If you are going to go into private practice, which as we know it’s a tough industry to break into now, what would be your advice at the current stage--knowing what we know concerning reimbursements cuts and all that? Answer Dr. Sarnoff: First, scout the location where you will set up. If possible, go to an area where it’s not so …
The Importance of Running a Team Oriented Practice and Cultivating Cultural Awareness
Team Cultural awareness is an important part of your new practice.  When starting your practice, it’s most important to remember that it’s hard. It’s hard to start making decisions for your patients, you will wake up at night thinking about your patients, you will spend long hours making sure that one medication was given the right way. You will train your staff to be part of a team—a …
Team
I Wish I Had Known: Pay Attention To Staff During Residency
staff residencyOne of the most important skills that I strive to develop in order to run an efficient, pleasant practice is to effectively manage my staff. Throughout residency I was so focused on learning dermatology to the best of my ability that I never considered the other skills that would benefit me in practice. My behavior sets the model for how everyone else should conduct themselves. I have fun with …
staff residency
Consider Hiring a Practice Management Consultant
leader researchScott Beals, DO Dermatology Surgery Center-Crestview, Niceville, Andalusia Crestview, FL 1. The most important thing I learned from starting a practice 10yrs ago, make an investment and get a good practice management consultant 2. Too many areas to consider when starting a practice 3. Start an electronic medical record 4. Keep up with medicare and government regulations 5. Get a high qual …
leader research
Use Simple Electronic Tools to Improve Communication with Your Patients
electronic communicationsOne of the most challenging aspects of practicing medicine is ensuring consistently effective communication with patients. This is particularly true in dermatology, where patient volume is relatively high compared to other fields. Many problems and pitfalls commonly encountered in practice are avoidable. If you and your staff take advantage of relatively novel yet simple methods of transmitting i …
electronic communications