Physicians Practice - September 2008 - (Page 52) ADMINISTRATOR’S DESK play out in billing, at the front desk? That way everyone knows what the goals are and agrees on a [direction for the business.] Unless people know where they’re going, they can’t evaluate where they are.” Most practices hold monthly meetings to discuss their progress and any staff issues that might arise. This is an opportune time to keep leadership apprised of any accomplishments you and your staff have realized. “You can’t over communicate with physicians,” says Hansen. “It shouldn’t be done to the point of tediousness, but be sure you tell them at the next meeting when the staff does something right and say, ‘Hey, let’s have a pizza party or bring in bagels in the morning to reward them,’” advises Hansen. “It’s a nice way to reward the staff and it shows how many of your goals they’re accomplishing with you leading the charge.” MOVING ON If, after meeting with the physician shareholders, you feel your request for fair pay is falling on deaf ears, or you’re not getting the respect you deserve, it may be time to call it quits. Renie Galford, for example, recently left her job at the sevenphysician practice where she was the administrator for 13 years, taking a pay cut to become assistant manager at Orthopedic Associates in Fishersville, Va. “I was putting in 75 to 90 hours a week. I was exhausted. I had no time for my personal life and after talking with the physicians I saw no change coming,” she says, noting her salary and benefits were highly competitive. “For me, I had to make a change.” Another sign that it’s time to move on? When your values are not coinciding with the senior management’s philosophy. Joan Rissmiller, who left her general surgery practice in April after 15 years, learned that lesson first-hand. “You’ll know when it’s time to move on,” she says. “The senior managing partner who I had worked with closely had left and his replacement did everything behind closed doors. There were never any meetings between the corporate part- ners and myself. It was an entirely different environment. I became very dormant in my position.” While Rissmiller says she had expected to stay at her former practice until she retired, her decision to leave was ultimately the right choice. “It took me a long time to take the leap and I had a lot of sleepless nights,” says Rissmiller, now the administrator for Colon-Rectal Surgery Associates in Allentown, Pa. “But after six months in my new job, I received a bonus that I’ve never had in my life and now I have a staff of 18. It’s nice knowing you’re challenged and appreciated. I literally just moved across the street and the grass really is greener over here.” • Shelly K. Schwartz, a freelance writer in Maplewood, N.J., has covered personal finance, technology, and healthcare for 12 years. Her work has appeared on CNNMoney.com, Bankrate.com, and Healthy Family magazine. She can be reached via editor@physicianspractice.com. 52 | PHYSICIANS PRACTICE | SEPTEMBER 2008 WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM http://www.pivothealth.com http://www.pivothealth.com http://WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM
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