Physicians Practice - June 2008 - (Page 67) START IT UP: STAFFING BRING ’EM ON BY L AURIE HYL AND ROBERTSON LAUNCHING A NEW PRACTICE? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIRING. You may have heard that hiring staff is one of the later tasks to be completed in the run up to opening your doors. But ideally, that process should begin much further in advance — think months rather than weeks — and be inextricably linked to the raison d’être of your business. “Starting a practice is a great chance to build your team from the start,” notes Northbrook, Ill.-based management consultant Donna Weinstock. “If you can convey an attitude of what you’re looking for, what your mission statement would be, and have the staff participate in building on it, they feel not just loyalty but also have a stake in [the practice] in terms of wanting it to succeed.” creatively and be flexible about who performs what task, but conceding to a decision that represents a fundamental philosophical shift — or simply straying too far from your LAY THE GROUNDWORK preferred path — isn’t a good idea Your team won’t gel — or indeed in the long term. even begin to function as a West Virginia dermatolocohesive group — unless gist Beth R. Santmyireeveryone has a comABOUT THIS SERIES Rosenberger feels mon vision of where Have you been pondering striking out fortunate to have you (and they) are on your own, making the leap from figured this out employed associate to practice owner? Or are you headed. Start by early in the just starting out in practice, and wondering if it’s returning to life of her worth going even deeper into debt to start your own some of the two-year-old venture rather than getting “a job”? questions you practice. “I Whatever your situation, Physicians Practice is here hopefully asked think you to help with our comprehensive six-part guide to starting yourself early need to a medical practice. In addition to the pre-opening on: How do I develop your day planning advice you may have seen in other want my business such guides, we’ll delve deeper into the key personal mismilestones you’ll need to meet for success to look and feel? sion statement long after you cut the ribbon. What do I want from and stick with it my practice five years no matter what you down the road? Ten years? have to do to achieve Where do I hope to be 12 your goals,” she says. “It is impormonths from now? tant to know yourself, your ethics, You shouldn’t have to change and your values.” your values to align with job Then, with the help of standard candidates. You may have to think examples readily available online JUNE 2008 | PHYSICIANS PRACTICE | IN SUMMARY Too often, physicians rush into hiring decisions just to get a warm body in the chair. Hiring new staff doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does have to be carefully thought out. • Your practice’s mission statement, staff manual/handbook, and job descriptions should all be in place before you begin the hiring process. to pay for experience. Another good mental habit: Think of staffing as an ongoing process, even when your practice is “fully staffed.” Set continuous feedback loops in motion, and plan for employee development and education. Credit checks are a good idea in most cases, too, and follow up on references, even if you think you won’t obtain any worthwhile information. “I can’t comment on that” in response to nine of your 10 questions tells you what you need to know. • Get into the mindset of being willing • Background checks are a must. WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM 67 http://WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.