How to Manage a Health Clinic

To manage is to lead a group of followers in a direction of great success. Leading with emotional intelligence creates a relationship with your employees that results in loyal followers, thus creating exceptional service for your clinic's patients. As a health clinic manager, you must remember that your employees are the face of your practice, and without their loyal support your clinic is sure to fail. Patient satisfaction is key, and it starts the moment they check in.

Instructions

• 1

  Start with the basics: Keep disruptive impulses under control. Behaviors such as yelling or banging on the table when things do not go as planned have a negative impact on others. No one wants to conduct business in this type of atmosphere. Find ways to recognize your employees. Make sure that they understand that their service is valued, and that you respect them. Show empathy when employees are faced with difficult personal situations. Be flexible. Healthcare is an ever-changing industry. As a healthcare practice manager, you must demonstrate the ability to be flexible in these changing situations. Help others to work with you in overcoming obstacles and to move in new directions.

• 2

  Keep an eye on the clock. Decide what an acceptable amount of waiting time for patients is. Follow your schedule book, and don't overbook appointments. Make sure to allow for extra time for new patients, or any appointment that may need extra care. Be firm with your patients; if their appointment is at 2 p.m. and they check in at 2:30, politely remind them of their appointment time and reschedule.

• 3

  Stay organized. Electronic medical records are the most efficient, but if your office is still using paper charts, pay close attention that patient records are not in view of other patients. Use a logging system when a chart has been removed for review by a provider; this will allow the other office staff to find patient records when needed. The last thing any doctor wants to hear is "I can't find the patient's chart."

• 4

  Conduct frequent staff meetings. The nurses, providers and other office staff are on the front lines of this business and no one will know better when certain policies and procedures are not working. Listen to them and help each other come to agreements and resolve issues.