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