Save Time and Get Out of the Office on Time This Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is here once again. There are two things you can say for sure- this is exciting and this time of year is incredibly busy! You feel busier around the office for several reasons. Number one, more people have off work and can be seen by your medical staff without taking a PTO day or missing school. That means a lot more appointments than normal. As well, your staff members are taking off for vacation and extra time spent with their loved ones. This would make your office feel busier even without the extra patients.

It can feel nearly impossible to get through the day and close on time. What you need to do is focus on a few time- and sanity-saving tips!

#1 Use an instrument rinse system. If you are still trying to clean all of your medical equipment by hand, it is no wonder you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. You should know that it is incredibly inefficient to do it this way. A quick rinse automated instrument rinse system will allow you to do your due diligence, without taking unnecessary man power for hours to get it done. There are numerous benefits to choosing this form of phaco handpiece sterilization. It is far more efficient than a disposable syringe. These instrument rinse systems provide consistent rinsing pressure and volume regardless of the operator, and eliminates hand fatigue issues associated with repetitive syringe use. You can have your needed handpieces washed and ready for reuse without too much time spent doing so.

#2 Set small, achievable goals. It is easy to look at everything you need to do and get the feeling of “I’ll never get through it!” This attitude actually makes it even more difficult. Looking at your morning and seeing too patient appointments or too few staff to help out can be stressful. If you break it up into smaller tasks, you’ll feel more in control and will be much more productive. Tell yourself “I’m going to call five patients to confirm their appointment and then have a cup of coffee.” Anyone can do that! You’ll be surprised just how much easier it is to get through a hectic day this way.

#3 Do everything correctly, the first time. Nothing wastes times like re-doing something because it wasn't done right the first time around. Do your work well and diligently. This may mean following the phaco handpiece cleaning instructions so you don't need to reclean it. It may mean filling out your forms carefully so you don't mess anything up. Be sure to enter the correct codes into the computer so there isn't an insurance approval problem in a few days!

Don’t worry about getting through the Holiday season at your medical office. A few changes, like following the phaco handpiece cleaning instructions precisely, are all you need to settle your mind and boost your efficiency. You'll be out the door soon after closing time!