Step Back or Move Forward?
A critical take on the establishment of a successful practice that provides a life's worth of patient value and unending income.
In retrospect, about a year after writing about Commanders of Change as a progressive new breed of doctors, I did not realize how prophetic it would be. The most successful doctors in private practice that we see today are making their own changes and continuously improving themselves and their practices. All of it despite the happenings in the outside world. They have clearly learned to Practice by Design.
On the other hand, those that are unsuccessful in private practice are actually practicing by default.
It's no secret that your patient's lives are very different now too. Beyond just an election year uncertainty, entire pillars of American society are facing changes that come very, very quickly.
So here's the simple choice: Learn new systems, grow, and become more patient-centric while reinventing your practice, yourself, and your future.
Or do nothing and hope that things will continue to be like they used to be. Either way, know that it is a decision that will leave a lasting effect on your entire life.
I am not telling you it's easy, far from it. If it were, all the doctors in private practice would easily gross six- and seven-figure salaries. For some of us, it's the most difficult issue in life at the moment.
I do, however, speak from experience when I tell you that the direction you take now, because of it being such a pivotal time, can mean dominating your given market area, building a powerful, profitable practice knowing you are fulfilling your professional destiny, and having that extra income committed to permanent interest-bearing investments that can provide you a lifetime of freedom.
Or failing to act decisively and quickly, while gathering all the tools and information you must have regardless of who or what tries to dissuade you, can mean closing your doors. It's this simple.
Do you hang around with naysayers or dwell upon how tough things are while worrying about loss of income and your investments?
Or have you instead asked for help where you need it, moved forward with a clear vision of the future instead of regrets about the past.
While you are reviewing or reformulating your game plan, here are some of the critical areas that need special attention.
First, do you and your whole team communicate the real value and the most meaningful benefits of what you offer? And are you simultaneously making it easy for those who want more of what you have to offer raise their hands and buy more?
Do you talk only about pain, covered visits, or 'Longer, healthier life with the energy and physical capacity to engage your passions to their fullest'? Or do you teach them how to be continuously "Looking and feeling spectacular" and "Having more energy than people 10-15 years younger'?
Because face it, Doctor, this is exactly what you provide to people.
If you are not presently fully committed to the idea, I advise that you provide enough time to see for yourself how the practice development programs that we have provided can be more efficiently utilized to make all of this your reality, as well.
Always remember, these are the patients that tell everyone about their doctors and those that gladly pay for everything you do. They come back, year after year, with their children and grandchildren.
How about your team? Are they crisp, efficient, friendly, and understanding? Do they go out of their way to make the office a place that people love to come to and tell everyone they know? Do they fully support you or stress you out way too much? This is also a choice. Your choice, Doctor.
As a vital referral-driving and expanded patient care network, what is the quality of your other healthcare professional relationships? Have you aligned yourself with like-minded MDs, DMDs, DPMs, etc.? Do they refer easily back to you in complete confidence? Do you offer support to them as well as their patients?
Most importantly, do you have a clear vision and a step-by-step game plan to make all of this a reality?
Not too long ago, I wrote on how to develop a step-by-step implementation game plan. If you are having difficulty with any of these critical areas instead of going into overwhelm, allocate some quiet time, a day or two out of the office if need be, use the simple system that I have developed for you and just get it done.
And remember, this is where good coaching and modern tools and systems are priceless.
Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of Living and Practicing by Design. Know more about his unique approaches to private practice success, visit http://perfectpracticeweb.com/ and register for a FREE CD and Info Pack.