Running a medical practice is a tricky thing. First, you need to understand that you’re working with actual people in a time of medical distress. That is why you need to be extra careful. They’re not just customers they’re patients. They’re human beings in need who put their trust in you, and it’s unethical and immoral to let them down or disappoint them. Most importantly, you need to bear in mind the fact that running a medical practice efficiently isn’t that easy. Here are four ethical tips that will help you run a more efficient medical practice.
- Hire professionals
There are two things you need to run an effective medical practice (staff-wise). First, you need people who are proper medical experts. After all, you’re in a field where people’s lives and health are at stake. A mistake happens, but every mistake is a potential medical issue or even a loss of life. From a business perspective, every mistake is a potential lawsuit. In other words, when doing a background check, it might be a good idea to inquire about the college record of the person you’re hiring. Sure, it’s not a guarantee of a successful medical career, but healthcare is a demanding field that requires a lot of hard work. Those who are just good at “winging it” usually don’t have the best record in medical school.
- Hire empaths
Being merely a medical expert is, sadly, not enough. The majority of patients come with something routine, which is why they may not pay attention to the quality of medical service. What they’ll notice is the level of empathy and understanding that they’re met within your clinic. Remember that you’re running a business and rude staff or staff that simply lacks understanding may drive away your patients. In this way, they can lower your revenue. Also, remember that a medical check-up seldom turns out to be a pleasant thing. So, a staff that makes people even less comfortable can be the ruin of your medical practice.
- Professional fit-out
The thing about a professional fit-out is quite significant. A patient can visually recognize brand new medical equipment. Moreover, it can reassure them that they are, indeed, in good hands. Other than this, you can invest in a professional fit-out in order to make life easier for your own medical experts. In order to do this, look for companies that specialize in medical fit-outs and look at their offer. The key thing is that you need to figure out is that this is a top priority. When making a budget, make sure to use this as a starting point.
- Waiting room management
Finally, waiting is what makes your patients uncomfortable and there are several things you can do about this. First, you can organize your schedule a lot better. Sure, 5-10 minutes per patient is an amount of time that accumulates rather rapidly. The problem is that trying to save this time may result in a huge diminish in patient satisfaction. Be more lenient with your schedule and ensure that your patients are summoned at the exact time when their doctor is available.
Organizing your waiting room and outfitting it with some entertainment is another contingency plan you should consider. Moreover, this is an ideal spot to display some brochures. Keep in mind that raising brand awareness makes all the difference in the world.
In conclusion
Putting a patient first is something that will drastically increase your patient satisfaction levels. It’s like going green with your business or household – it is an ethical thing to do and saves you money at the same time. In other words, it’s a win-win scenario. Sure, there are a lot of other things that you can tweak and improve on but, for the time being, you have everything you need on your side.
Author bio:
Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, but her ultimate passion is business and marketing. She is also a bibliophile and her favourite book is “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.