Train More, Work Less

Do you have the "doctor complex"? Do you think no one can do things as good as you? Do you think you have to be involved in every part of the patient process? Keep reading to see how proper staff training can help to lessen your daily load and make working more enjoyable.

We all obviously know that proper training is vital to the success of any business. From fast food to construction to medical practices, having well trained employees is the first step to ensure your business runs smoothly. But what happens if you kick that training up a notch? Second level training occurs when your team not only knows how to do their job, but they are able to understand the concepts behind their job. For medical practices, this is the "why" and the "how" behind the decisions made at the physician level. Having team members that understand what we are attempting to accomplish takes them from good employees to great.

Wondering how to achieve second level training? Let me help.

Step 1

The first step is to realize you don't have to do everything yourself. By having this mentality, it creates the desire to train effectively. Just because you know how to do everything doesn't mean you have to do it. I used to think I was the only person that could care for wounds in my office. As I became busier in my clinic, I soon realized that delegation to team members was necessary to continue to allow my practice to grow. I soon found that the more I allowed my staff to do, the more engaged and fulfilled they became. This allowed me to be able to move on to the next patient in a timelier manner and focus on patient care.

Step 2

The second step is to educate the team. This is a two-part process. First, you must educate on the product to be dispensed or the service to be provided. This is not the standard instructions provided when the team member learns the basics of their job description. This is higher level education of the specifics of how something works. An example would be training a team member that a pneumatic walking boot works better when it is inflated properly to significantly reduce motion of the leg muscles.

The second part of the process is the "how" and/or "why" behind the decisions made or the protocol. Referring back to the pneumatic walking boot example above, this means training the team that although peroneal tendonitis causes ankle pain, a tall pneumatic walking boot is needed, instead of a short one, due to the origin of the peroneal muscle more proximal on the fibula. With this knowledge, the team member is able to effectively explain to the patient why they need a tall bulky boot instead of a sleek shorter one.

They're an Extension of You

I have found that this second level training not only helps with team members' understanding of their job duties, but it also allows them to function as more of an extension of the physician. The confidence they exude when interacting with patients is highly valuable for not only patient compliance but also for DME and OTC conversions in office. This training can also help with inefficiencies in office flow by allowing the team members to be more prepared as well as begin to anticipate the next steps.

If you're interested in a more efficient, less stressful clinic day that actually ends on time, second level training could be your answer. Although it does take some effort on your part to not only train your staff member, but also to learn to let go, it will 100% be worth your while in the long run. Remember, the more the team members know and understand, the easier your job becomes. The easier your job becomes, the happier you are and this will make you a better physician.

Good luck!

Jamie Carter, DPM