you to resources that
can help you do your
job better?
• Who has your back?
• Who can serve as a mentor and provide honest feedback?
Make it a point to get face time with everyone from your CFO to
your scrub techs. Too often, administrators fail to spend time on the
floor with staff. Putting on scrubs and getting in the trenches regularly
will not only garner respect from your staff, but it could also give you
fresh ideas on how to improve turnover time.
Consider a consultant. You've delegated everything you possibly
could, you've streamlined every process you could think of and
you've huddled with everyone in your power base about any time-
savers you might have missed, but you're still stretched way too thin.
Now what? In this case, you might need some outside help. That's
where specialists and consultants come in.
For example, with the new CMS payment rule kicking in on Jan. 1, a
coding specialist could be the best option to get up to speed on all the
reimbursement changes in a timely manner. Other areas where spe-
cialists and consultants could save you both time and stress: accredi-
tation, credentialing, electronic records and infection prevention.
Clear your plate, ask for backup
Once you've done an honest self-assessment, it's up to you to make
some changes. While there's no way to reduce the pace and demands
of your always-challenging job, making these 3 changes could help
you run your facility without burning out.
OSM
Dr. Bear (lynettebearmba@gmail.com) is the vice president of clinical oper-
ations at Somnia Anesthesia Services.
3
Staffing
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2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
"If a person can do 70% of the task in
question, you should delegate it."
