Four Tips for Improving Your Practice
Train your staff to be courteous and welcoming
This seems so obvious and elementary that it shouldn't have to be mentioned. However, all of us have been in offices where the staff is unwelcoming or preoccupied. First impressions are important, and the person who is the initial point of patient contact plays a vital role in providing a quality patient visit. Make sure that the receptionist and front office staff greet patients in a professional, friendly manner.
Bring inferior employees up to speed
In a small practice, an inferior employee can have a significant effect on the productivity and job satisfaction of other employees. Since mediocrity can be contagious, take steps to address the situation when an employee is not performing as anticipated. Communicate clearly what you expect and give any underperforming employees the training and support they need to succeed.
Conduct regular performance reviews
This is often an uncomfortable task for employers or managers. It's difficult to tell someone that he/she is not performing up to par. However, one of the biggest mistakes an employer can make is not doing the performance review at all. Employees have a right to expect direction and feedback. If they are doing something wrong, they want to know how to fix the problem. They also want to know what things they are doing right.
It's important to document job performance in case you need to terminate an employee in the future. Be honest and thorough. Keep in mind that the performance review might come back to bite you if you have not given a fair and accurate evaluation of an employee's strengths and weaknesses. Make sure that written performance reviews are kept confidential from other staff members.
Reward employees for a job well done
Recruiting and retaining good employees is a key factor in a successful practice. Institute polices that will keep your staff happy and motivated. You don't have to offer them a trip to Hawaii. However, rewarding employees with a day off or a flexible working schedule can go a long way in keeping them working for you. You can find innovative ways to be flexible in the work place at When Work Works, a nationwide project of the Families and Work Institute on workplace effectiveness and workplace flexibility. The project is designed to share research and highlight promising work practices in the 21st Century.
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