It’s a new year, which means many of us are setting goals and making plans for the next twelve months. To celebrate 2017 and help our NORM members have their best year yet, we’ll be writing a series of blog posts focused on goal setting and goal getting. In this first installment, we’re asking our members and ourselves the following question:
What will your rheumatology practice accomplish this year?
Setting goals for your practice is just as important as setting them for yourself. With so many changes happening in the health care system, it’s important to stay focused on what matters most to your practice, your physicians, and your patients. By asking these questions at the beginning of the year, you’ll set your practice up for long term success. Good for you, good for your physicians, and good for your patients! Need some inspiration? Check out the following three tips.
- Identify short-term and long-term goals. What can you realistically accomplish in the coming year? What do you hope to accomplish in five or ten years? What do you need to do now to make those long-term goals a reality? Break your big goals down into smaller steps, with actionable things you can do at each phase of your journey. Goals are like ladders—you’ll be more successful if you step on each rung! When you’re making these goals, also remind yourself not to get carried away and to stay focused. It’s better to achieve three specific goals than to fail at ten far-reaching ones.
- Goals should be in line with your mission and values. Each rheumatology practice is unique, which means each one will have different priorities at different times. One of your first steps should be to figure out where your practice can improve and then think of ways to do that. Do you receive complaints from patients or staff members about anything? Can you streamline paperwork, or set up a new phone system? Little things that make your day easier will add up, making your work environment more pleasant and efficient for everyone.
- Growth is almost always good. While every practice is different, most have at least one thing in common—they want to grow their business. This means bringing in new patients, hiring more staff, and cutting down on no-shows. One good way to set 2017 goals is to brainstorm out-of-the-box ways to accomplish these things. Maybe you need a better marketing plan, or a stronger online presence. Maybe you can send your physicians to community events to do in-person outreach. Figure out what is do-able and appropriate for your practice, and then do it!
We hope these tips help you set great goals for your rheumatology practice! Do you have any resolutions to add to our list? If so, hop onto our Facebook page and share them. In the meantime, have a happy new year!
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