Staff Management

Fund Your Staff’s Continuing Education: Your Practice Will Benefit

By Laurie L. Sorrenson, OD, FAAO

Maintaining a high quality of service to patients is important to me, so fully funding continuing education (CE) for my staff is important to me, too. Investing heavily in CE results in employees who are better able to fulfill patients’ needs. This greater capability also leads to happier employees, with staff members skilled enough to do their jobs with ease.

I pay for all of the CE for staff. I pay registration fees, and though we can do most CE locally, I also pay for hotel stays when necessary, as well as travel (plane or mileage). I also give them $25 a day for spending money if they go out of town, and pay them for the hours they spend in class. They have to show their signed off hours to get paid. In addition, I pay for the fees associated with testing to be certified, and for their certificates to be renewed.

I estimate that the CE and all related costs come to about $500 per employee annually. This cost is well worth it to me. Staff can’t afford to pay for CE, especially when it requires out-of-town travel, and they probably don’t itemize these expenses on their tax return, so they can’t write it off, and our practice can.

I realize I am probably an outlier in paying so comprehensively for my staff’s CE, but I wonder why. Think about when you visit a doctor or caregiver of any kind. The best experiences are the ones in which those serving you fully understand your needs–and have the capability to take care of those needs without misunderstanding or mishap. The ability to anticipate patients’ needs and then be competent enough to address those needs doesn’t happen magically–education is necessary. Many doctors try to provide all needed education themselves, or by having new employees shadow more seasoned employees. It’s a good idea for practice leaders and experienced staff members to participate in the education of new employees, but these methods of teaching are not substitutes for formal CE classes.

Along with the ability to better serve your patients, a well educated staff is likely to stay with you longer resulting in less staff turnover. Investing in employee education sends the message that you care about them and are invested in their ability to do their jobs well. When employees understand your level of commitment to their success, they become more engaged and happier in their jobs.

Happier patients and happier employees makes fully funding CE for my staff a no-brainer.

How much, if at all, do you pay for your staff’s CE? Why or why not do you think it’s important to subsidize your staff’s CE? What benefits does a well educated staff bring to your practice?

Laurie L. Sorrenson, OD, FAAO, is president of Lakeline Vision Source in Austin, Texas. To contact her: sorrenson@att.net.

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