Run it like a business? I hope not. Wait! Maybe it is a good idea.
For years doctors have had to constantly remind themselves that medical practices are businesses. I often hear doctors say that, but how many doctors really do run their practices like a business? Hospitals are businesses too, big businesses.
Think about the doctors offices and hospitals you’ve been in for the past couple years. They all fall into one of two styles: old or modern. They are rarely different. Seen one, seen ’em all.
If they were run like businesses, wouldn’t some be at least a little different?
Going back to the private medical practice for a moment, how many doctors have websites? How many doctors use the latest in communication technology to communicate with their patients? They might invest in the latest piece of medical equipment but they won’t answer an email from a patient. I would bet that would be a great way of building a practice and saving some time on the phone.
Save time? There might be hundreds of emails! Yes, and if the details of setting this up were thought through, it just might cut the doc’s phone time.
And it would be different.
And that would be running a practice like a business.
Chris Reich, Author of TeachU’s Business Talk Blog
Chris@TeachU.com