Task Management Tips to Maximize Office Efficiency
>> Monday, November 28, 2011
Improving office efficiency is a task typically assigned to office managers and administrators, but all employees and supervisors can take steps to increase productivity in the workplace. A medical office, in particular, requires that physicians and their staff members work quickly with maximum efficiency in order to address the various needs of their patients.
The front desk staff of a medical office, which usually consists of administrative medical assistants, represents the “face” of the practice as this is where patients sign-in before receiving treatment. They need to complete a high volume of clerical tasks typical to other front desk jobs as well as arrange lab tests, update medical records and make sure that insurance forms and other questionnaires have been correctly filled out by the patients. Keeping a record of important calls, using prioritized “to-do” lists and making sure that essential paperwork is organized enough to be correctly distributed to their supervisors will give front desk workers the time they need to answer patients’ questions with a friendly smile.
Registered nurses and their assistants, especially in large metropolitan hospitals, have to keep track of a large number of patient details such as medication dosage amounts and vital statistics, which is why learning to manage time is one of the most important goals for a new nurse. While electronic medical records software (EMR) has greatly increased efficiency in this area, many RNs like Jennifer Tucker carry a personalized spreadsheet with them to keep track of their work. Head nurses who work in large offices and hospitals must also learn to delegate appropriate tasks to less experienced nurses and medical assistants, as it is impossible for one person to meet the demands of every patient.
