The Importance of Documenting Protocols

Many people reading this Huddle right now are lacking in this every important and usually ignored topic that is a real secret to consistent and effective performance as well as quality training and predictable outcomes.

I’m not talking just about a ‘manual’ of rules and policies.  Obvious things like show up on time, plan your work, work your plan, help each other and never leave with unfinished task and all common sense.  Being a great team member is really just taking responsibility, showing awareness and then acting on what you know is the right thing to do.

Today, I’m talking about tactics.  I’m talking about your playbook for success.  I’m talking about getting down to the specifics of what each interaction with patients should look like.

You have it clinically with procedures (at least I hope you do).  Possibly it’s just in the doctor’s head and with the most seasoned assistant, making the tag team approach to working chair side seamless.

But, is that enough?  (You already know that answer.)

What about all of the other parts of the practice?

From the exam flow and process,

To the hygiene visit,

To the doctor handoff,

To the way insurance is dealt with,

And every other small detail.

You should know and have documented the protocols that make you successful every day.  This is the only sure-fire way for each team member to have clarity.

Expectations can never be fulfilled successfully and consistently without the clarity of what they are.

This is what ultimately leads to dysfunction, frustration, negativity and poor performance.  Even with someone who is quite capable, but is still not clear on what, how, when, where, why, who for any given responsibility.

Today, what I would like you to focus on is: clarity of protocols for a successful day.  Defining first what the outcome of a day should be and then down into what the outcome of an individual patient visit should be.

Stacked on top of that, what each person’s role is in that outcome and what the expectations of responsibilities and performance need to be in order for success to be achieved.

Finally, what the reporting, tracking, checks and balances, systems, and protocols are at the end of the day in order to make sure it’s all happened and everything is accounted for.

This all seems so elementary and yet it is the basics that form the foundation for success that a practice is built upon.  These details matter, as daily execution is all we have.

This is worthy of constant and never-ending study.  Your improvement will only come from dedicated effort, focused work and open discussion.

Start there… and I’ll be back with more to help next week.