The Optometric Minute

Tips on Building Your Technician Support Staff

March 14, 2018

Increasing the number of technicians in your practice can help doctors stay on time, offering you extra support for optical hand-offs, testing and scribing. Costs for the additional staff can be recouped with a few extra tests, or a couple more patients, per day. The increased doctor support means better care and less wait time for patients to start their appointments.

Increase Tech-to-Doctor Ratio
Develop Staff from Within

MORE THAN ONE TECH PER DOCTOR. Having two, or even three, technicians per doctor means more help moving patients around the office, taking imaging and aiding optical hand-offs.

IMPROVE PATIENT CARE. More technicians mean less need for patients to come back for additional testing, or for the doctor to run behind schedule.

COSTS EASILY RECOUPED. A few extra tests per day, or a few extra patients per day, can recoup the costs of salary for an additional technician.

 

PROMOTE FROM WITHIN. Promotion to lead technician can create a well-qualified lead trainer for other technicians.

EDUCATE TECHNICIANS. Consider sponsoring certification for technicians to advance the learning curve, and make them even more able to provide a helping hand.

SHOW BUSINESS CASE TO PARTNERS. Explain to skeptical partners why it’s worthwhile to invest in additional technicians, and how easily they can pay for themselves.

 

 

Scott Huffer, OD, is a partner with with Drs. Helfman, Lasky & Associates in Nashua, N.H. To contact: eyedocscott@gmail.com

Kelly MacDonald, OD, is a partner with Helfman Lasky & Associates in Nashua, N.H. To contact: kellymacdonaldod@gmail.com

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