Navigating the modern healthcare systems can leave you frustrated and pulling your hair out. There is growing pressure for you to make your practice efficient, valuable, and patient-forward, which means that any inefficiency stands out like a sore thumb – sometimes literally.
Poor management and patient dissatisfaction can be a death sentence for any practice, and that knowledge should scare you into being reactive and productive. Below are five impressive ways to turn your medical practice into the smooth-running machine that you know it can be.
1. Focus On Patient Care
Being focused on patient care doesn’t have to be the financial and physical drain that it sounds like. All it means is that you need to take the time to listen to your patients and focus on their needs.
Sometimes that can look like a slightly longer consultation than normal, and other times it is simply taking your patient’s word for it – it is their body, after all, so chances are they know when something isn’t right.
2. Use Technology
A modern, efficient practice means taking advantage of every possible way to streamline your practice and make it better. Digital consultations are nothing new, but they were projected into the forefront during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Offer digital or telephonic consultations to make your patient’s life easier – often times they do not require a face-to-face consultation, and technology can make your life and theirs just so much easier.
The result is practices that are more efficient, more affordable, and much more accessible – so a win-win all around. You can even use digital consults for patients that prefer alternate methods of treatment, such as edible oils.
3. Be More Organized
Organizing your medical practice, whether small or large, should be one of your priorities. Time constraints can leave your practice managers having to juggle a tremendous number of responsibilities.
You need to have a schedule strategy in place to prioritize your office tasks and an InnerSpace Health Care system to protect your practice’s valuable supplies. Having organized and manageable medical storage is a must for any medical practice.
4. Keep Notes
Good clinical notes are essential for proper patient care. You have to document the medical history of your patients – that way, when something goes wrong, you have your notes to look back on and figure out what went awry and when.
In-depth patient knowledge is impossible without these clinical notes, and they increase the trust and faith your patients have in you. If they feel heard and respected – they will be more likely to recommend you to their friends and family.
5. Confirm Appointments
When it comes to your medical practice, abandoned appointments are a great source of frustration and lead to a loss of income and wasted time. By having your office make a consistent effort to confirm appointments, your patients are more likely to uphold their agreements.
Most patients don’t intend to miss their appointments, but life gets busy, and sometimes patients forget – particularly for routine check-ups that are scheduled weeks or months in advance.
Proper patient scheduling will allow your front-desk staff to focus on more important tasks and not waste too much energy on patient management techniques.
