5 Low-Cost Ways to Improve Your Practice

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5 Low-Cost Ways to Improve Your Practice Running
a medical practice is expensive but improving it
doesnt need to be. Did you know you can do a
few things to improve your practice and the way
it operates? You can if you consider some or all
these tips. Assign, delegate, and train No one
knows how to do everything, and people have
different strengths. Capitalize on these
strengths and challenges. If employees are
skilled in certain areas, let them focus on those
tasks and fields. Technology-savvy employees,
for example, could help design and maintain your
practices websites. Giving them the time to
review your web pages could help them supplement
your site, keep it up to date, and respond to any
comments or issues such as malware that could
arise. To recognize their skills, you could
delegate these employees to be superusers.
Superusers have access to technology that others
in the office dont have. They could also be
valuable in training others about various digital
matters. Its also important to train your
employees in all sorts of office-related matters.
By creating an orientation training program that
provides information to new hires, you might
prevent current employees from spending extra
time looking for ways to provide training. Such
orientation programs also provide the same
information and make sure everyone knows the same
things. Training doesnt end when people are
hired, though. Make sure your practice informs
employees when updates or problems arise by
holding training meetings, workshops, or other
educational opportunities. Talk and work with
colleagues In addition to optimizing the skills
of your staff members, consider doing the same
with your colleagues.
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People in the same positions have probably
encountered many of the challenges and triumphs
youve faced. So, ask about them. Did you attend
school with people in your field and still keep
in touch? Exchange patient referrals with others
who practice your specialty? If so, you might
want to talk with them and compare notes about
your profession. Even if you dont already have
these contacts, you can make some. Attending
medical conferences or workshops will put you in
contact with like-minded people. When youre
talking with these people, you can share
information and perspectives. Of course, youll
want to be careful that youre following HIPAA
regulations and not divulging patients protected
health information. But you could discuss
certain matters, such as how you handle missed
appointments, if youve found certain kinds of
office software easy or difficult to use, and
matters like that. If you find that you have
similar perspectives and approaches, you may want
to take things to the next level working with
these colleagues. Combining your talents with
like-minded colleagues could reap many benefits.
Having more doctors and staff members in your
practice offers personnel coverage if people are
sick, need to leave work for emergencies, or want
to take vacations. Because a combined practice
has more employees, you might receive discounts
on employee health insurance or investment plans
geared for retirement. And again, more doctors
and other staff members mean more opportunities
for collaboration. While one person may not have
an answer, a coworker may. Notice verbal and
nonverbal communication Communication isnt just
helpful among professional colleagues. Its also
helpful when its between patients and their
health care providers. Although youre busy
during appointments, take time to really listen
to what patients have to say at those times.
Attentive listening could help you listen to
questions and answer them fully.
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• Since communication is also nonverbal, paying
  attention to patients is helpful in other ways.
  It could help you observe your patients body
  language, if theyre nervous about discussing
  certain things, or if theyre experiencing
  symptoms that theyre not sharing or noticing.
• Similarly, doctors and staff members should pay
  attention to what theyre communicating
  nonverbally. Theyll want to acknowledge that
  theyre listening by nodding their heads and
  facing their patients, signs that theyre seeing
  and hearing them.
• Nonverbal communication can also relate to the
  management of personal space. Patient relations
  consultant and author Karen Leland says that
  there are three common personal space areas
  between patients and physicians
• An intimate zone, which is a distance of zero to
  two feet between a patient and a physician. This
  spacing often occurs during examinations.
• A personal zone, or two to four feet between a
  patient and a physician. Many conversations occur
  within this area.
• A social zone, four feet or more between a
  patient and a physician. Teachers frequently use
  this type of spacing in
• classroom settings.
• Health care professionals who position themselves
  more than four feet away might be trying to
  establish their expertise, but it could alienate
  their patients. Instead, doctors should try to
  interact in the personal zone, two to four feet
  from their patients, when theyre conversing.
• If patients take a step forward or back,
  physicians should follow their lead. By doing so,
  theyre working with their patients comfort
  levels.
• Invest in office software
• The comfort levels of you and your staff members
  are also important and should be considered.

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• Handling prescriptions and working with
  pharmacies or other outside entities.
• Scheduling appointments and sending reminders of
  these appointments.
• Managing patient flow through front desk
  interactions, waiting
• rooms, examining areas, and post-appointment
  spaces.
• Working with other health care providers on
  referrals and other tasks.
• Interacting with insurance providers and
  programs.
• Sending and handling bills and working on other
  revenue- related tasks.
• Oh, and examining and treating patients and
  everything that goes with those tasks. Theyre
  important too.
• The right eye care software helps offices with
  those tasks. While it may require an initial
  investment in time and money, this investment
  could help improve your practice and the way it
  operates.
• Eye care software usually incorporates electronic
  health records (EHRs) and other patient medical
  histories. It often integrates practice
  management systems and digital patient portals
  and leverages the information of
• EHR and other data.
• Cloud-based eye care software thus makes
  information more available and usable.
• Streamline insurance and payment procedures

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If claims are accepted, payment may arrive more
quickly. This could create more speedy revenue
for your office and help you manage your
budget. EHR-based information could also be
handy when making appeals, talking to insurers,
and working on billing. It informs patients about
their health and gives them the agency to manage
it. For further assistance managing
health-related matters, contact Eye Care Leaders.
Well help you develop and use technological
tools to improve your practice and your service.