- Lose weight
- Volunteer
- Quit smoking
- Save money
These are some of the more popular New Year’s resolutions each year. For 2015, switch things up and focus on making and sticking with some much-needed resolutions for your practice.
Here are some ideas to get you started on the path to make 2015 your most productive and successful year to date.
1. Beef Up Your Marketing Mojo
Evaluate what you spent in 2014, including the return on investment you received for each and every program. Is your social media campaign working? Are you utilizing free programs from your key vendors? Are you skimping on advertising? Is it time to break up with your search engine optimization provider? Don’t be afraid to make changes in 2015.
2. Slash Your Overhead
Whether it’s reducing your credit card processing fee or your patient financing interest, enrolling in a group purchasing organization or renegotiating your lease, there are a plethora of ways to spend less without sabotaging your practice. Remember the adage “one man’s junk is another ?man’s treasure”? Is there a laser graveyard or a sea of computer monitors taking over your storage room? Sell it to ?earn extra cash when possible; donate it when it isn’t. Consider hiring a consultant for more outside-of-the box ways to save cash.
3. Play Nice
Life gets busy, and we forget to say “thank you.” Stress sets in, and we yell when we should explain. Budgets get cut, and we think our employees can do without a team-building afternoon retreat or a slice of birthday cake.
Lead by example. Smile when you speak to your staff and your patients, and never forget to say “thank you” or “I’m sorry.”
4. Just Do It
Whether it’s finally getting information on the piece of equipment you’ve been eyeing, applying for the loan that will make your practice flourish, or settling on the right electronic medical record, pick five items you put off in 2014 and go for it in 2015.
5. Make New Friends
Attending a new industry conference will expand your horizons. While attending your favorite conferences is great, spice up the tried-and-true with something new in 2015.
6. Reel Them In
Don’t leave patient appointments to the patient. Remind them via email, text message, or phone calls. Better yet, remind them of the upcoming appointments they haven’t scheduled. Consider outsourcing this process to a company such as Solution Reach or a diligent staffer.
Jay A. Shorr
Jay A. Shorr, BA, MBM-C, CAC I-V, is the founder and managing partner of The Best Medical Business Solutions, based in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla. His column, “The Shorr Thing,” appears in every issue of Plastic Surgery Practice. He can be reached via [email protected].
