Part 5
Silkin Management Group provides management consulting and training for privately owned health care practices. We deal primarily with dentists, veterinarians and optometrists throughout the United States and Canada. Although they are extremely well trained in their profession, they have had little training in the management of a practice
On our various Silkin Management Group blog sites http://silkinmanagementgroup.org/?p=64, we have been presenting a list of items that should be considered part of any office policy you are creating. As discussed in our earlier articles on this subject, office policy is vital to the effective operation of any group activity.
In our continuing series on the subject, we will now cover some suggested wording for some of the items discussed in our earlier articles. Silkin Management Group has a 400 plus page Office Policy and Job Description manual that is provided to new clients. We’ve done a large amount of research in this area and don’t expect new clients to have to “re-invent the wheel” on this subject. But, as not all readers of our blog sites are Silkin Management Group clients, we thought we’d provide this information for anyone interested.
Today we will present a proposed introduction to your office policy manual. This information can be found in the above mentioned Silkin Management Group manual.
Introduction
Welcome to our practice. The following policies are designed to provide working guidelines for all of us. Written office policies help to:
- Prevent misunderstanding and lack of communication
- Eliminate hasty, unrefined decisions in personnel matters
- Ensure uniformity and fairness throughout the practice
- Establish the basic agreements that everyone in the office operates on
Our practice is open to change. Changes happen as a result of internal growth, legal requirements, competitive forces or general economic conditions that affect our profession.
To meet these challenges the practice reserves the right, with or without notice, to change, amend or delete any of the policies, terms, conditions and language presented in this manual. Changes in personnel policies are made after considering the mutual advantages and responsibilities of both the owner and staff. All of us need to stay aware of current policy and, as revisions are made, new pages will be given to the personnel to place in staff manuals.
Remember, your suggestions are welcome. Just notify the Office Manager whenever problems are encountered and wherever you think improvements can be made.
In future Silkin Management Group blog articles our consultants will continue to present some suggested wording to the items discussed the previous Silkin Management Group blog site articles on this subject.
Gary Crawshaw
Silkin Management Group Consultant