Tag: Productivity

Fostering Inter-Staff Relationships in Optometry Clinics

Human Resources, Managing Others, Training & Onboarding

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In the bustling environment of an optometry clinic, where precision and empathy intertwine, the relationships among staff members play a pivotal role in shaping the patient experience and clinic efficiency. From receptionists to optometrists, each member contributes to the seamless functioning of the clinic. Therefore, prioritizing and nurturing inter-staff relationships isn’t just an idealistic pursuit; it’s a practical necessity. Here’s why it’s crucial to focus on maintaining these relationships and how it can positively impact the clinic’s dynamics and outcomes.

Ask yourself this question:

When I walk into any healthcare setting, what is the thing I observe the most?

Answer: The staff.

Next question, “What influences my perception of how this appointment is going to go?”

Answer: Interactions between staff members.

We all do it. We are born observers. That’s how we learn, survive, and thrive as human beings. We watch and we make assumptions as to what’s coming next. It makes us feel safe and more at ease to do this.

Now for those of you that are thinking “That’s not a good enough reason to invest in supporting these inter-staff relationships” here are a few others that might peak your interest.

 

Clinics with Strong Inter-Staff Relationships Experience:

  1. Enhanced Communication and Collaboration:

Effective communication lies at the heart of any successful organization, and an optometry clinic is no exception. When staff members maintain healthy relationships, they are more likely to communicate openly and collaborate effectively. Whether it’s discussing patient cases, sharing insights, or coordinating schedules, a cohesive team fosters an environment where information flows seamlessly. This not only reduces the likelihood of errors but also enhances the quality of patient care.

  1. Boosted Morale and Productivity:

A positive work environment characterized by camaraderie and mutual respect is conducive to high morale among staff members. When employees feel valued and supported by their colleagues, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in their work. This, in turn, translates to increased productivity and efficiency. A team that works well together is better equipped to handle challenges and adapt to changes, leading to smoother clinic operations and ultimately better outcomes for patients.

  1. Culture of Trust and Support:

Inter-staff relationships built on trust and support form the foundation of a healthy organizational culture. When employees feel trusted and supported by their peers, they are more likely to take initiative, innovate, and contribute to the overall success of the clinic. Moreover, a culture of trust encourages open dialogue and constructive feedback, allowing staff members to learn from each other and grow both personally and professionally.

 

  1. Reduced Turnover and Enhancing Recruitment:

A clinic that prioritizes inter-staff relationships is more likely to retain its employees and attract top talent. Staff members who feel connected to their colleagues and supported by their workplace are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. Additionally, a positive work culture characterized by strong relationships can serve as a powerful recruitment tool, drawing in skilled professionals who are eager to be part of a collaborative and supportive team.

Now are you starting to see why focused effort on creating these strong relationships can benefit your clinic?

I hope so at this point! Because you can clearly see that this is a win, win for all people involved.

Here are a few ideas to get you started on fostering these inter-staff relationships:

  • Increase your approachability: Take trainings on self regulation, self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness to increase your team’s comfort around you.
  • Recognize and appreciate staff members for their contributions and achievements through verbal praise, written commendations, or employee recognition programs.

 

  • Celebrate milestones, birthdays, and work anniversaries to show appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the staff.
  • Acknowledge personal achievements in life. Congratulate team members on personal accomplishments that they share. This will encourage others to share their own and increase connection among the team.

What it comes down to is if your staff have relationships that they value and have been encouraged to value, the clinic performance increases and so does the positive perception of patients.

If you can see the value in fostering inter-staff relationships I invite you to visit https://www.emotionalintelligenceconsultinginc.com to learn more about how you can start implementing this in your own clinic.

Jade Bodzasy

Jade Bodzasy

Jade Bodzasy, Founder of Emotional Intelligence Consulting Inc., is a dedicated Coach and Consultant for Optometric Practices. Her extensive background includes over 20,000 hours of expertise focused on customer relations, work structure refinement, training method development, and fostering improved work culture within Optometric practices.

Certified in Rational Emotive Behavior Techniques (REBT), Jade possesses a unique skillset that empowers individuals to gain profound insights into the origins of their behaviors, as well as those of others. Leveraging her certification, she equips optometry practices with invaluable resources and expert guidance to establish and sustain a positive, healthful, and productive work environment.

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How to Measure Staff Productivity

Finance|Wealth, Human Resources, Practice Metrics & Benchmarks, Resources

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We met with an industry expert recently and something he said struck us: “No one ever regrets hiring too soon. In fact, employers never hire soon enough!” We often hear concern from our clients that the employees that they have now aren’t working enough, and they resent the idea that they have to hire another employee to increase productivity in the office.

“Productivity” in industry is defined as the effectiveness of effort measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input. The metric we use to measure staff productivity is Revenue per Staff Hour.  Basically, we are evaluating how much gross revenue is generated for every hour of staff time that is logged. For every staff hour paid, a healthy range is between $110-$130. If the staff is not generating this, it is an indicator that either the office is over-staffed, or that the staff is unproductive. If the office is generating more than this, it is an indicator that the staff is over-worked and in order to increase productivity, it is time to hire more team members.

We also want to evaluate the productivity of each department in an office to ascertain where the gap is. For instance, the office may be well staffed on front desk but short staffed in the dispensary.

In a primary care office that offers optical services, the optical should be generating 30 sales per month per staff member working in this department. If you have a part-time member, use 15 jobs as the guideline. Ultimately, the idea is to gather information that will help you make decisions to increase productivity. If 1 ½ staff are generating 50 or more sales in a month, it is time to consider moving up to two full time staff in this department. If two full-time staff are only generating 50 jobs per month, you may want to evaluate their individual performances and offer coaching and tools to help strengthen their sales skills.

Productivity of the pretesting staff can be evaluated by looking at the percentage of patients visiting for a full exam that have additional diagnostics taken. When 60% of full visit patients are opting for diagnostic testing, there needs to be a staff member dedicated to each doctor with this result.

There are a number of indicators of front desk productivity. If this role is being done well, the no-show rate should be less than 2%. Further, every doctor in the practice should be averaging a similar number of new patients.

Lastly, as a rule, happy and appreciated staff are generally more productive. It is worth the time and effort invested in team building activities, continuing education opportunities and staff incentives. To prove it, measure the productivity before and after implementing any of these activities and you will see a marked difference in productivity.

 

KELLY HRYCUSKO

is the co-founder and managing partner of Simple Innovative Management Ideas (SIMI) Inc. and expert Practice Management contributor for Optik magazine. She can be reached at info@simiinc.com.

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4 Practice Productivity Pointers

Finance|Wealth, Human Resources, Practice, Practice Metrics & Benchmarks, Resources

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The time crunch is one of the great struggles of practice ownership. You need to balance doctoring with staff management, administrative duties, and all the other responsibilities of your life. Fortunately, there are principles you can follow to make this challenge more manageable.

At the start of a new year, many people make business goals, as well as personal resolutions. Come early spring, many of us are scratching our heads and wondering why we’ve yet to accomplish what we set out to do. I’ve written down my goals, you might say, I’ve even managed to itemize them into manageable steps, and yet, I have not accomplished them.

The excuse, so often, is a lack of time. Most people say after a full day of seeing patients, managing staff and administrative duties, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish additional tasks. But what if the problem isn’t how many hours we have, but how we are using them?

Match Task to Best Time of Day
Daniel Pink, author of WHEN: The Scientific Secrets to Perfect Timing, has done research and concluded that certain times of the day are better than others for doing different types of work. Understanding common time management mistakes is the first step to finding smart ways to structure your time more effectively.

Pink’s research points to evidence that a person’s circadian rhythms play into the success of each day. All times of the day are not equal in terms of prime productivity. One of the keys to success is matching certain tasks to the proper time of the day. Individual chronotypes (i.e: how your personal biorhythms operate) determine both mood and ability to perform at any given time of day. Not only do our personal circadian rhythms impact our physical function; they also affect both professional and ethical judgment.

Pink found that 14 percent of the population are natural morning people, 20 percent are true night owls, and the vast majority fall in the middle. For the vast middle, they move through the day in three stages matching their predictable biorhythms: peak, trough, rebound. An early lark will follow this pattern, but will reach each threshold earlier in the day, whereas a night owl will go through these rhythms in the reverse order.

What is the Synchrony Effect?
Pink describes something called the synchrony effect where if you match certain tasks with certain times of the day, your productivity will escalate. For example, for everyone except true night owls, in the morning we experience our peak rhythm, a time of elevated energy, mood and focus. This rhythm works well with analytical tasks such as writing reports, analyzing data, and other strong cognitive tasks that require focus and few distractions. Mornings would be a time to go over office financials, schedule glaucoma or macular degeneration follow-ups, visual fields, OCT testing or any other task that requires stronger mental attention.

Managing Your Moods
The trough period strikes at midday or early afternoon. Research shows at this period of the day moods plummet and focus deteriorates. Alarmingly, in a hospital study Pink sites in his book, incidence of medical error goes up in early afternoon, and the rate of hand-washing among hospital employees drops at this time of day.

How can we effectively navigate the downturn of mood and productivity among ourselves and our staff during the trough period of the day? Pink claims the negative effects of low mood and activity in early afternoon are mitigated by a break. A break, he explains, is not a deviation of performance, but rather, a recharge to aid in the rebound of energy and focus.

Interestingly, Pink found the type of break taken impacted its effectiveness. A social break is more productive than a solo one. A break that incorporates movement, such as a short walk, is better than a stationary break. An effective break recharges you.

Re-Think Your Schedule
Thinking about our daily schedules, many optometry offices utilize lunch breaks for office staff meetings or to schedule appointments with contact lens, drug or frame reps. Looking at Pink’s theory of time of day, the trough period is a better time to do administrative work, such as answering e-mails, or separating from the office altogether.

After an effective break, the trough period cycles into the final circadian rhythm, which is the rebound. Afternoons can be productive, but people tend to be less vigilant than they were in the morning, and can be more distracted. Afternoons are a perfect time for more creative endeavors. Brainstorming a change in schedule, or interviewing for a new hire? Afternoons are an ideal time for these tasks because mood and performance go back up and the brain is more open to new ideas, and less inhibited.

For the small number of people whose chronotypes of fall into the true night owl category, Pink explains these biorhythms work in reverse order: rebound, trough, peak, making creative endeavors flourish in the morning and analytical, focused demanding tasks more productive in the afternoon.

New research in the field of time management has unearthed interesting ideas that explain variance and productivity. The idea of pairing certain cognitive tasks with certain times of the day could increase our performance. Restructuring tasks to match our natural circadian rhythms could be the secret to achieving greater productivity.

What have you learned about yourself in maintaining productivity? What productivity struggles are your hardest, and how are you attempting to meet the challenge?

 

JENNIFER JABALEY, OD

is a partner with Jabaley Eye Care in Blue Ridge, Ga. Contact: jabaleyjennifer@yahoo.com

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