Are you struggling to maintain your autonomy?
In a world where it’s becoming increasingly difficult for small practices to remain independent, it’s especially important for practices to perform at a high level as this could be the difference between maintaining autonomy and being acquired by a large medical system. But how do you stay performing at a high level? Here are 5 tips to get you on the right track.
Be realistic.
Don’t ignore the current state of the medical field. Sticking your head in the sand or believing things are better than they are will do you no favors. This doesn’t mean being pessimistic, just acknowledge the realities as they are. Look around, take note of what’s happening, and decide how your practice is going to combat these realities.
Plan ahead.
This naturally follows being realistic. Once you see the realities ahead, make a plan on how you’re going to deal with those realities. In fact, why limit it to one plan? Make a bunch of plans, each to be carried out on a different timetable. And definitely do not procrastinate. It’s easy to feel paralyzed by upcoming regulatory programs or changes in payment requirements, but fight the urge. Stay ahead of the curve and make a plan. Your stress level will thank you.
Listen to your patients.
Your patients are the lifeblood of your practice. Listen to what will improve their experience and try to fulfill those requests whenever possible. Use patient surveys and do some internet research to see how your patients are reviewing you online. If the feedback is less than favorable, resist the urge to feel offended; use that information as the fuel to ignite changes that will make your practice better.
Take advantage of technology.
By now you’ve probably adopted an EHR. (If you haven’t, by the way, the time to do so is now.) Make sure that you thoroughly understand how your system works and that it’s working in the most efficient manner for your practice. If it isn’t, contact your EHR software vendor and sign up for additional training or ask questions on how you can use your system to its fullest capability. If you feel it’s time to choose a new EHR, begin that process. It’s also a good idea to look into available add-on technologies that can increase your practice’s efficiency. Think ePrescribing, automated appointment reminders, and patient portal as good places to start.
MicroMD’s 2015 Edition certified EHR is scalable and customizable for most any specialty and practice size. Additionally, we offer a number of solutions, including AutoRemind and Henry Schein Secure Chart, to streamline some of the tasks that can keep your staff from having the time to address other office needs.
Keep your physicians happy.
This tip is sort of a case of the chicken and the egg. Physicians are happiest in high performing practices, and happy physicians help practices to perform at the highest level. Implement the other tips we’ve shared and you’ll be in good shape to keep your physicians happy and your practice performing at its highest level.
A high performing practice is a healthy practice, and one that is able to withstand the current environment in the medical field without being acquired by a larger medical system and losing autonomy. Preserve your independence by implementing these five tips and ensuring that your practice is in optimal condition.
Not sure if you’re using technology to the best of your ability? For more information on MicroMD and our available solutions including how we can help your practice perform better, visit micromd.com or call 1-800-624-8832.
Looking for a specialty EMR?
MicroMD EMR/EHR is flexible and can fit almost any specialty. Let us help you get back to the business of healing.
