FOR SO MANY OF TODAY’S HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS, YOUR TEAM IS THE ANSWER

EVEN IF we had thousands of pages available for the theme of this month’s issue of OM, new directions in health care, we could still only scratch the surface of such a broad topic. But whether we’re discussing thousands of pages or just one of the topics our experts present this month, one lesson becomes clear:

As navigating through a complex health care system becomes more and more challenging, a well-trained, dedicated, professional staff is invaluable to the continued success of any health care provider.

WHAT YOUR STAFF CAN DO FOR YOU

One example is the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which John Rumpakis, O.D., details in the article, “MIPS: Knowledge Is Power” (p.18). Certainly, staff members can help with the administration of the new system, under which eligible professionals will receive Medicare payment bonuses, penalties or no adjustments at all. Staff also can help ensure this system has minimal impact on such areas as practice efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction.

In addition, staff members are also instrumental in plans to boost efficiency, writes Steve Vargo, O.D., (“CEO Checklist,” p.52). The staff “will be more committed to the process when they are involved in developing solutions,” writes Dr. Vargo.

Further, staff can play a role in preventing no shows and preparing patients to maximize the benefits of their managed vision care plans, as Lorie Lippiatt, O.D., writes in the article, “Orchestrate Your Managed Vision Plans” (p.14). Both Dr. Lippiatt and Mark Hinton (“Scriptopedia,” p.10) provide sample scripts for the staff.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR STAFF?

In addition to training, consider employing a team bonus, even during tough times, writes Trudi Charest, R.O., in “Personnel Pointers” (p.56). “When sales are down and things seem tight, that may be the exact time to implement a team bonus program,” notes Ms. Charest. An effective team plan includes goals, revenue growth for the practice and a bonus, “lucrative enough to drive” changes in team behavior. The result: An all-around happy practice. OM