Approximately 25% of spending in the U.S. healthcare system can be characterized as waste, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). That’s between $760 billion and $905 billion annually!
So, how can healthcare providers do their part to reduce this staggering amount of waste? By implementing better healthcare practice management, of course. Here are five tips to help you.
Implement an Electronic Health Record (EHR) System
If your medical practice isn’t using an EHR system, now is the time to make the switch. Not only will it help you save money on paper and storage costs, but it will also help you streamline your workflow.
EHR systems can automate many of the tasks that are essential to medical practice management, such as appointment scheduling, prescription refill requests, and lab results tracking.
Go Paperless
In addition to implementing an EHR system, you can also save money and increase efficiency by going paperless in other areas of your practice. For instance, you could start using electronic faxes, online forms, and e-prescriptions.
By digitizing your medical practice, you’ll be able to reduce clutter, improve security, and make it easier for staff to access the information they need.
What’s more, patients will appreciate being able to fill out forms online before their appointment and receive their prescriptions electronically.
Improve Communications
One of the most important aspects of hospital management is effective communication. After all, if your staff can’t communicate effectively, it will be difficult to provide quality care.
There are a few simple things you can do to improve communications in your medical practice. They include:
- Holding regular staff meetings
- Using a secure messaging system
- Establishing clear lines of communication between different departments
In addition, make sure that your patients know how to reach you with questions or concerns. Provide them with your contact information and make yourself available for appointments or phone calls outside of normal business hours if necessary.
By improving communications, you’ll be able to resolve issues more quickly and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Implement a Quality Improvement Program
A quality improvement program can help you identify areas where your medical practice could be more efficient. It can also help you make changes that will improve patient care.
There are many different ways to implement a quality improvement program. One option is to use the Model for Improvement, developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. This model consists of three basic components:
- Identifying an area of focus
- Developing and testing changes
- Implementing the changes on a larger scale
No matter which quality improvement program you choose, the important thing is that you make a commitment to continuous improvement.
Hire Biomedical Services
Biomedical services can help you keep your medical equipment in good working order. This, in turn, can help you improve patient care and reduce costs.
Biomedical services can provide a number of different services, including:
- Equipment maintenance
- Equipment calibration
- Equipment repair
In addition, biomedical services can often provide training for your staff on how to use and maintain medical equipment. By taking advantage of these services, you’ll be able to extend the life of your equipment and ensure that it is always available when you need it.
Healthcare Practice Management Tips for Medical Success
By following these tips when running a healthcare practice, you can improve healthcare practice management and make your medical practice more efficient. In doing so, you’ll be able to provide better care for your patients while also reducing costs.
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