Author: Carolyn Yoder

Distractions are a part of everyday life. They are hard to avoid whether you are trying to read a book or a more pressing task like completing your taxes. Unfortunately, these diversions also bleed into your professional life, where focus is even more crucial. And there isn’t a profession that requires laser focus, quite like the medical field. Regardless of if you work for a health center or a regular practice, finding ways to kick distractions to the curb and give attention to your core activities is vital. We’ll investigate the biggest distraction troublemakers and ways you can reduce their workday effect.

Smartphones

Smartphones seem to always top any list of the worst office distractions. However, there is one issue. In many cases, they are required tools. So, how can you use a smartphone for productivity and not get distracted by a quick game of Among Us? For one, try to remove the main distraction offenders off your home screen. Next, turn off pesky push notifications. You don’t have to turn them all off, but if they don’t serve a workday or emergency purpose, mute them. If all else fails, uninstall the apps that tend to lead you away from your work like the Pied Piper. You can always reinstall them when you get home.

Workspace clutter

Does your work area look like a small tornado just ripped through your office? It may be time to clean up and organize. Your workspace doesn’t have to be pristine, a study found that a little clutter can inspire creativity, but if it’s a complete mess putting things in their proper place can reduce unnecessary distractions. Such as taking 5 minutes to locate a pen. Before arranging your workspace, come up with an organizational plan. And once implemented, try to keep it clean by scheduling a time daily to tidy up.   

Multitasking

You may think you’re multitasking, but you aren’t. All you are doing is switching your focus from one task to the next without ever truly concentrating on one. It feels like you are doing more than one thing at a time, but unfortunately, it’s just not possible. Multitasking is the sneakiest form of distraction. Your brain is fooling you into believing that you are a task tackling dynamo. What should you do? Forget about completing more than one task at a time and instead focus on one until it is complete. In conclusion, if it kills efficiency, then it’s a distraction.

Too many meetings

Meetings aren’t as evil as some want to portray, but too many waste precious time. How can you discern from a time-waster versus a needed meeting?  If you can send a concise email that accurately conveys your message, then choose that option. If not, make sure your meeting is well-planned and has a clear goal. Don’t allow meetings to become a distraction, instead harness their power to promote teamwork and efficiency.

Cutting down on distractions, and learning how to focus, can make your day go much smoother, and improve productivity. If you are finding tasks, such as billing and credentialing, are distracting you from your core tasks maybe we can help. Contact us today to learn more.

We could all use a little laugh. Even if it’s just a bit punny.

From humble beginnings in the 1960s to explosive growth 60 years later, FQHCs have become an integral part of our health care system. They provide vital services to underserved communities across the nation. But how are these essential health centers operating? Where is their source of revenue? We take a quick look at the top four sources of revenue by payer.

Your office and exam room décor seems like an insignificant factor for your practice or health center, but ambiance can make a huge difference in your patient’s experience. Walking into a drab, colorless office can add to anxiety. No physician wants that for their patients. On the flip side, décor that is too busy or distracting can, unfortunately, have a similar effect. So, why else is it important to find beauty and balance? Here are a few reasons your office décor matters and helpful tips to improve it.  

Remember, patients don’t want to be in your office

No offense, but patients would rather be just about anywhere else than your health center. It’s a workplace for you but a source of great stress for most. That’s why having an inviting waiting room can make an impact on your patients’ morale. It won’t cure all of their trepidations, but even a little dose of cheer can provide a positive mood boost.

Clutter is the enemy of calm

Regardless of your décor goals, no one wants to provide an aesthetic that causes increased anxiety. That leads to job number one. Reduce your office’s clutter. Not just in your waiting room but also your exam areas. Remove items like old storage bins and file cabinets that are no longer in use. Remember, keep your exam rooms clean and simple.

Exam room redesign for efficiency

Beyond the surface reasons for redesigning, there are also productivity factors. If you find yourself bumping into things and having difficulty locating needed items, there’s a good chance you need to plan a better layout. Additionally, ensure your patients have sufficient space for their items. Don’t cramp them. And speaking of cramped spaces, when choosing storage solutions, go sleek and efficient. Large, clunky furniture will make the room feel small and stuffy.

Make it personal

Say you enjoy sailing on the weekends. Or you like to hit the trails and enjoy nature. Bring some of your external passions into the office. Decorating with a theme can provide a fun, unified look that your patients will appreciate. It may even spark a conversation that will enable your patients to allow their minds to drift away from their appointment. Even if it’s for a mere second or two, those peaceful moments have a positive impact.

Hire a professional

If it’s in your budget, consider hiring a professional decorator. It completely removes the stress from you and your staff and places the task in the hands of an expert. Many professionals can even craft a plan to improve your office’s flow and efficiency. You won’t even have to lift a finger.

Whether you choose to decorate your office yourself, or you hire a professional. The right décor can make a positive impact on your health center or practice. Speaking of positive impacts. Need improved revenue to go along with your new décor? Contact us today and we’ll optimize your revenue. (we don’t decorate though).

The importance of delegating can’t be overstated enough. When you’re overwhelmed enlist help. Either within your organization or with an external outsourcing partner.

Delegating is a scary word for some. There’s the old saying, “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.” And although there are tasks specific to your skillsets, learning how to let go of control and delegate is vital. If you want your health center running like a well-oiled machine, you must investigate which parts of your day-to-day activities can be shifted to other employees or a trusted outsourcing partner. If you’re new to this concept of delegating, no worries, we are here to guide you. You’ll discover a whole new level of efficiency.

First, you must adopt a delegator mindset

You may think you are ready to delegate but are you? Delegating starts with you. Trust your ability to choose the right tasks, and the right people, when you finally decide to delegate. If you lack trust in yourself, the delegating process will fail before it even begins. Next, trust the workers or agency you delegate to. Be unwavering in your decision and commit to the process. You’ll be happy with the results.

Set clear goals and expectations

Before you take the delegation leap at your health center, ensure you clearly define your expectations. One of the biggest pitfalls when starting this process is failing to plan. You need to answer these questions:

Why am I delegating?

Who will handle this task?

What are my goals with delegating this task?

What are my quantitive and qualitative expectations?

Take out a piece of paper, or open a word document, and strategize. Putting in the work now will save you headaches later.

Start with repetitive tasks

You know the mundane tasks. The ones that take little skill to complete but take up oodles of time. The best way to free up your day, and become a more efficient worker, is to push these tasks onto someone who specializes in them. A worker or agency that can tackle these repetitive jobs with energy. You’ll have more time to focus on your core activities while these adept workers increase your output. It’s a beautiful thing.

Complicated tasks

All too often, health centers and medical practices have the belief that outsourcing, or delegating is for easy tasks only. On the contrary. More complex activities like billing services or credentialing are perfect for delegating. Do you have the time, or expertise, to properly complete your Medicare credentialing? Commercial payers? Or Blue Cross and Blue Shield? Look into an expert partner who can help you navigate these intricate tasks. You’ll save time and possibly even a few sleepless nights. Are you feeling more confident about assigning some of your work to others?

Hopefully, you are ready to make your day easier by delegating. But even if you’re not quite there, keep delegating in mind. Eventually, you’ll see the value in trusting your work with others.

You need to be proactive with your practice’s reviews. And when you receive a poor review be responsive. Reputation is made online.

75% of healthcare providers state that the patient experience is critical to the organization’s success. Just like in all businesses, customer experience is becoming vital. Focus on patient experience and they will keep coming back.

And who doesn’t want more time to focus on their core tasks? Outsourcing can free up the necessary time to finally concentrate on the most important projects and tasks in your health center.

From the cost of buying paper to storage to even security concerns, kicking the paper habit can save your office time and money. Investigate ways to go digital and learn how to operate with less paper. Long term your bottom line will be happy with the decision.