Running your dermatology office smoothly and efficiently is no easy task. Check out these insightful tips for interacting with your office staff.
1. Staff Meetings
Set aside designated times for staff meetings. Communication is essential to make this happen. Scheduled team meetings give a platform for your employees and promotes communication so that items are not discussed haphazardly throughout the day.
- Provide feedback to staff members at all levels
- Discuss office problems/concerns
- Providing time for employees to voice ideas, concerns, etc.
- Outline goals and expectations
- Track progress as a team toward your goals
2. Employee Training
Effective training from the start will save you time and frustrations in the long run. Gone are the days where medical assistants simply roomed patients and obtained medical histories.
- Make training a priority, especially with a new hire
- Train your new hires on how to properly use EMR systems – it takes time and tremendous effort
- Designate an office manager/nurse/assistant to oversee the process
3. Show Appreciation
Put forth measures to incentivize or reward outstanding employees. They deserve it! Employee retention and engagement is one of the most important pieces of a successful practice. Get to know your employees and what motivates them. Recognize their hard work to boost office morale and retain good employees. Organize staff lunches, give free products or award gift cards to show your appreciation. It will go along way with employee retention and engagement.
4. Define Expectations
Every provider has different expectations for their teams and different practice styles. Have clear expectations for your staff at all levels and communicate that. Create processes and procedures to methodically complete tasks. It will lead to fewer mistakes in the workplace and ultimately, a more efficient office. Your employees want to know what is expected of them and what success looks like. Help them to achieve their full potential by clearly defining those milestones.
5. Remember Who You Are
Never lose sight of why you became a dermatologist. Balancing employee management, patient load, healthcare compliance and your personal life is challenging. Don’t let that get in the way of patient care and the art of our amazing specialty.
