Where We're Going

“Past experience should be a guide post, not a hitching post.”

Routine is the skeleton on which our days are built. When a practice first opens, the team test-drives each new component of patient care and office procedure, discovering what works for them and what doesn’t. It’s a settling-in process of trial and error, and eventually it results in a reliable framework that they can count on.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that routine can become as comfortable as an old pair of bedroom slippers – and, like an old pair of bedroom slippers, it may not be supplying the support that we need. From time to time, it makes good sense to step back and re-evaluate. Here are signs that may indicate elements that have outlived their usefulness:

• Over-specialized roles: Sometimes, a member of the team has a particular strength in a certain area of the practice, and tasks get realigned to take advantage of that strength. That’s fine…but what happens when that team member moves on but the role created for them persists? Team members are unique individuals. When the players change, sometimes roles and task assignments need to change, as well.

• Out-dated paperwork: Good record-keeping is essential, and long-term retention of records is an integral part of patient care. But not all forms are equally useful. Are members of your team spending valuable time filling out paperwork that no longer serves a clear purpose or has been superseded by newer, more comprehensive forms?

Take a fresh look at the tried-and-true routines that make up your team’s day. Can you spot an element that may be due for a change?