The Most Important Thing You Should Do for 2015

“I don’t have time!”

If you’ve ever uttered those words in a moment of frustration, you are not alone. Marketing, practice/insurance management, coding/billing, HR and compliance are just a few of the things that tug at your time.

Making the best use of your time is the single most important thing you can do for your practice in 2015, but you can’t do it alone. We all have the same number of hours in a day, so what is the best way to get help when you need it, in the areas you need it?

Simple. Establish a virtual team of experts with the focused expertise, knowledge and – most of all – the time your team doesn’t have. Think of a virtual team as self-employed consultants or administrative personnel who work remotely. They can be retained by the hour or the project, much like any consultant who may come into your office.

How do you know you’re ready for a virtual team? Or perhaps you’re already working remotely with a consultant and would like to augment their expertise.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Are last year’s projects still incomplete?

2. Are you paying too much overtime just to keep up, but don’t need or aren’t ready for another full-time employee?

3. Does it seem like you just can’t reach the next level?

4. Are you overwhelmed by the growing compliance and regulatory expectations?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then perhaps you’re ready for a virtual team.

Finding the right expert(s) is the key. Start by asking colleagues for recommendations. Next, research your candidate’s credentials and the organizations he/she belongs to. This assures you he/she is current in their field. Finally, interview the prospective candidate(s) to determine fee structure and fit for your practice. At this point, ask for references – and be sure to check the references.

Ideally, your goal is to develop a long-term relationship with your virtual team member(s). So approach the process much as you would when hiring employees. A good match yields productive results as well as peace of mind.

Make 2015 the best year yet by leveraging the expertise of a virtual team for the success of your practice.

About Post Author

Linda Harvey

As a nationally recognized healthcare risk manager and compliance expert, Linda Harvey teaches dentists and teams how to effectively integrate regulatory compliance into their practices. Linda draws from real-world experience, having worked with clients who have undergone HIPAA, OSHA and Dental Board audits. <a href="http://www.lindaharvey.net/">Linda speaks and consults</a> in the areas of risk management, regulatory compliance, remediation courses and dental record audits. In addition to active membership in the National Speakers Association, Academy of Dental Management Consultants and American Society of Healthcare Risk Management, Linda is also a Distinguished Fellow in the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management.