Six actions to improve governance in your medical practice
Most medical practice owners have been trained in the concepts of clinical governance, in hospital and university. These are the important rules, systems and processes that guide the daily activities of doctors, nurses and healthcare staff in their roles. However, when it comes to creating and applying governance frameworks within private practices, many practice owners […]
Strategic planning to future-proof your practice
The healthcare industry is transforming at a rapid rate, placing increased pressure on practices. Key factors driving these changes include health reforms, the implementation of the Health Care Homes model and digital health system, the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review and the national roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These changes are also coupled […]
Make hiring top staff enjoyable, with these five easy tips
The healthcare job market is an increasingly competitive space – for practices as much as the candidates seeking to work in them. Hiring and keeping good people has become a sales and marketing exercise similar to promoting your practice’s services to prospective patients. This is how you find the right staff to build the best […]
Tips for preparing for accreditation and beyond
In the lead up to accreditation, adopt a whole team approach to prepare, including the doctors. Always remember, accreditation is a process not an event! Use PracticeHub to simplify the accreditation process Self-assessment Surveyor login On the day – Maintenance records – Meeting agenda and minutes – Doctors’ documentation – Immunisation status – Training – […]
How to use your practice data to improve your processes and patient experience
Running a healthcare practice is a continual quality improvement journey. Your practice’s data can streamline this process, giving you insights to help you measure and enhance business performance, your daily running processes and ultimately, your patients’ satisfaction and outcomes. Staying across your practice data helps you keep doing what works and change what doesn’t. If […]
5 ways to improve how you manage difficult patient situations
From time to time in your practice, you may encounter a ‘difficult’ patient, someone angry, stressed, demanding or dissatisfied with a service or treatment. Often, unhappy patients just want to be heard and acknowledged. Some patients, however, may become confrontational to the point of being aggressive or violent. It’s important to keep yourself, your team […]
Seeking NSQHS accreditation? Learn the top 5 areas you need to meet
Accreditation can be a daunting and complex experience, especially when it comes to understanding which set of standards apply to your medical practice. For specialist medical practices, your practice processes are assessed against the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. These standards have similar aims to the RACGP Standards; both focus on protecting […]
How to recruit and retain the best staff for your practice: five top tips
As healthcare practices continue to face daily challenges, they’re relying on the strength and connection of their teams as never before. Particularly in the ‘interesting times’ we’re all living through – how do you recruit and retain talented staff for your team? What sort of tools and supports can help you strengthen your team? […]
How to choose the right healthcare technology solution for your practice
Healthcare technology innovations have accelerated in recent years, and so has the rate at which medical practices are adopting digital solutions to improve efficiencies and patient care. The pandemic, of course, has forced more practices to move from in-person healthcare delivery to digital patient management and telehealth services. In fact, 68% of medical practices report […]
Want to ace accreditation? Follow these top 3 tips
Many medical practices dread preparing for accreditation and undergoing assessment day, every three years. We asked practice manager, Carmel Brown, for her top tips to help you prepare with ease and stay calm on the day. But when you think of accreditation as being about improving the quality of your patient care, it becomes more meaningful. […]
Successful medical practices get these 6 things right – does yours?
Many factors determine the success of a medical practice. And while a healthcare business is subject to more regulatory constraints and obligations than a non-medical service-based business, there are common elements that can determine the degree of your business success. Here we will look at six essential factors for a more successful medical practice. […]
Are you across these essential strategies for effective practice management?
Underpinning every successful healthcare practice and its processes is a robust, well-thought-out strategy. But in your role as a practice manager, how often do you get the time away from the business operations to focus on the strategy? The difference between operational and strategic management Strategic management looks at the big picture; planning the direction […]
How to plan and assess financial performance in your practice
While there are many contributors to the success of a medical practice, financial performance is a critical one. Here we will look at ways to plan and track your financial performance for greater business success Owning a medical practice is a common goal for doctors, and there are many benefits to starting your own healthcare […]
6 essential steps to starting your own medical clinic
Starting your own medical practice is an exciting prospect and one that requires careful planning and preparation to make it rewarding, successful and sustainable. Whether you want to set up a general practice or a specialist private practice, there are many things to do before you open your doors. Let’s look at six essential steps […]
Preparing for accreditation can be easy. Here’s how
Accreditation time can be stressful for practice teams. But it need not be. If you set up processes with the future in mind, you will create a better-quality medical practice, while increasing the likelihood you achieve accreditation. It’s worth remembering why the RACGP developed its Standards for general practices: to protect “patients from harm by […]
Know your employment obligations, for a safer healthcare practice
If you’re a doctor-owner of a medical practice that you run through a company structure, you have personal obligations as its director to ensure it complies with employment and work health and safety legislation. Here, we look at your most important employment obligations and legal liabilities as director of your practice. Employee terms and conditions […]
How solid policies and procedures set up your practice for success
The safety, sustainability and success of your healthcare practice depend on the quality of your policies and procedures. The importance of this document can’t be overstated. It’s the guidebook for achieving your business goals that informs the day-to-day running of your business, defines staff roles (and provides a way to measure their performance), sets your […]
Good corporate governance: everyone has a role to play in your healthcare practice
Corporate governance is not just the concern of healthcare practice owners and directors. All staff in the organisation need to understand their role in its governance, to play their part in creating a safer, compliant and successful practice. What is corporate governance? It’s a system by which businesses are controlled and includes all the influences […]
Best practice HR management: creating a successful team and meeting compliance obligations
Human resources (HR) management focuses not only on finding and employing new talent, but retaining and managing them, while adhering to your legislative and ethical compliance obligations. It’s a vital part of any organisation and, done properly, it also guides employees to their best performance and increases morale by improving relationships between employees and employers […]
How do you get better staff performance? Take them on a journey
Every journey starts with deciding where you want to go. As a practice owner, thinking of your business goals as a quest is helpful to identify your practice vision. This idea of a quest, a shared purpose, helps you set wholistic, achievable goals with your practice manager, so they and your team can realise that […]
You’ve had to shut down your practice – what now?
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preparing for unexpected risks and problems – including a sudden practice shutdown. Having a business continuity plan in place means your practice can weather unpredictable events such as a shutdown, so you and your team know how to respond. Here, we look at strategies to help you prepare, […]
How are you going? Tips for improving wellbeing for practice teams
What does wellbeing look like? We’re sure you don’t need us to tell you it’s important to pay attention to wellbeing in practice. Especially in practice workplaces. Especially now. But what do we mean actually mean by wellbeing? How can we promote it in a stressful practice environment? Wellbeing can be a difficult concept to […]
7 steps to improve your post-pandemic risk management.
Risk is inherent in everything we do in our practices. While we’ll never eliminate all risk, we can minimise it with effective strategies that inform our practice policies and procedures. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, brings more risk potential and as we learn to live with the virus, healthcare practices need to be even more […]
Top 3 healthcare trends for a safer practice and better patient outcomes
Three major trends that make practice management and healthcare delivery simpler, safer and more efficient. Automation technology assists health practices to reduce pressures, lower costs and improve efficiency, leading to better patient outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a glimpse into the future of how healthcare systems might struggle to cope with growing demands. […]
Running a dental practice is complex. Here’s how to simplify it
Could your dental practice benefit from improved systems and processes? Streamlined daily operations are essential for greater efficiency, a harmonious working environment, and reduced errors and risk. One way to simplify your systems and processes is to use a centralised online platform such as PracticeHub. You can customise and set up your practice management procedures, […]
New ways of practice management
Many practice managers have embraced a ‘new normal’ which required them to navigate a minefield of workplace and staffing issues, such as managing vulnerable workers, responding to COVID-19 diagnoses and managing staff working from home. Major disruption that shakes up an industry is usually associated with new technology or business models, like smartphones or Netflix. […]
How solid policies and procedures set up your practice for success
The safety, sustainability and success of your healthcare practice depend on the quality of your policies and procedures (P&P). The importance of this document can’t be overstated. It’s the guidebook for achieving your business goals that informs the day-to-day running of your business, defines staff roles (and provides a way to measure their performance), sets […]
4 things every practice owner should know about effective practice management – Pt4
Part 4: Financial Oversight This is the fourth article in a series on effective practice management. As noted in the introduction to this series (see Post 1), each of these articles define a building block of effective management and offer actionable strategies and advice for practice owners. So far, we’ve discussed the importance of Management Structure & […]
4 things every practice owner should know about effective practice management – Pt3
Part 3: Human Resources This is the third article in a series on effective practice management. As noted in the introduction to this series (see Post 1), each of these articles define a building block of effective management and offer actionable strategies and advice for practice owners. So far, we’ve discussed the importance of Management Structure & […]
4 things every practice owner should know about effective practice management – Pt2
Part 2: Performance management – benchmarking, reporting and agility This is the second article in a series on effective practice management. As noted in the introduction to this series Part 1, each of these articles define a building block of effective management and offers actionable strategies and advice for practice owners. In our last article we […]
4 things every practice owner should know about effective practice management
The 4 building blocks of effective management As the owner of a general practice, you’re spinning a lot of plates. You’re the visionary and the strategic leader. You have ultimate responsibility for governance, cultural and clinical leadership. And of course, when all goes well you’re likely the principal beneficiary of success. But how do you […]
How the Strengthening Medicare GP Grant funding can be used to set your practice for success
Set up your practice for success with the Strengthening GP Grant. Eligible general practices and ACCHOs can apply for a grant through their Primary Health Network or National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) until 15 June 2023. Under the Government’s new ‘Strengthening Medicare – General Practice Grant Program’, three one-off grants of $25,000, $35,000 […]
Privacy and data breaches are increasing. How to protect your practice.
Privacy and data breaches in businesses across different sectors are becoming increasingly common. Recent news reports of data breaches at telecommunications and private health insurance businesses remind us of the importance of maintaining data security and meeting your privacy legislation obligations. With more sensitive patient and practice information being stored electronically, we can expect the […]
These essential steps will help you support your team’s mental health.
Maintaining mental wellness in healthcare workplaces is increasingly important these days, with strained resources, overworked staff and having to manage concerned or difficult patients. As a practice manager or business owner, looking after your team’s mental health is part of your duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (“the Act”). The Act requires that a […]
Does your healthcare practice meet these important legal obligations?
With healthcare and employment legislation frequently changing, how do you keep your policies and procedures current to ensure compliance and reduce risk to your practice? In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common areas of legal risk for your practice and how to ensure you meet the requirements. Improve your patient recall and […]
Managing risk in a multi-site medical practice: 6 tips to make it easier
If your medical practice is experiencing substantial business growth, you may be considering opening – or already have – multiple practice locations. With more sites, you can offer more services and convenience for your patients, as well as attract new ones. For your business, the benefits include obvious economies of scale, but there can be […]
Billing strategies to help you claim consumables in line with MBS rules
The costs of running a healthcare practice and providing services to your patients are rising. This includes the consumables you use daily, from masks to bandages, vaccines and wound dressings. The MBS rule on consumables, in relation to billing procedures, is GN.7.17. It states: “If a practitioner bulk bills for a service the practitioner undertakes to […]
The top 5 accreditation areas of non-compliance – and how to meet them
Undergoing accreditation every three years is one way a healthcare practice demonstrates its commitment to continually improving the safety and quality of their patient care. And successful practices look at their quality improvement as a daily process, not just at accreditation time. This approach not only makes preparation and assessment day less stressful, it leads […]
Patient complaints are stressful. Here’s how to handle them effectively.
Patient complaints can be stressful for your entire practice team, from clinical to administrative staff. But when you reframe complaints as a learning opportunity, you can better address and resolve them in a way that satisfies the patient (reducing the risk of legal or regulatory action), while supporting your team and improving your healthcare delivery […]
Establishing an understanding of the operating costs of a medical practice can be difficult
An absolute requirement of useful business plans for medical practices is a detailed understanding of the expenses involved in operating that medical practice and how the costs: The major expenses in medical practice include real estate, staff, training, utilities, software, accreditation and insurances. All of these costs increase overtime and this inevitable change should be […]
Choosing your medical practice software
We know that one of the single biggest challenges in establishing your medical practice is deciding on what Medical Practice Software to choose. This decision can make or break a practice. Speak to colleagues and get independent advice Software vendors will spruik their product’s highlights, but getting information on comparative features can be difficult. The […]
8 essential staff training modules for better practice management
Regular staff training is a crucial part of running a safe healthcare practice – for your team and your patients. External training can be time-consuming and expensive, but with an online practice management platform like PracticeHub, you can assign and monitor staff learning on-site for greater efficiency. Eight learning modules to upskill your staff and keep […]
Balancing act: Setting key performance indicators for practice success
Creating a successful healthcare practice can be a balancing act – between looking at the big picture of your business vision and direction, the planning and strategy to get you there, then tracking and measuring the steps you and your team take towards your goals. This is where key performance indicators (KPIs) come in. KPIs are the […]
