4 Practices That Help Physicians Have A Productive Daily Routine

Clinicians are a precious resource to society. They play a critical role in delivering necessary patient care and maintaining overall public health. However, the capacity of clinicians is severely underutilized owing to the non-clinical administrative tasks that command a large proportion of their valuable time. 

Healthcare workplaces have several outdated practices. Administrative duties, timesheets, scheduling, performance reports, and payment tracking, to name a few, are primarily manual, paper-based processes that can be error-prone and time-consuming, holding back doctors from reaching their full potential. To successfully address this challenge, there are several practices doctors can adopt to introduce a more productive daily routine, thereby ensuring the delivery of quality patient care.

Maximize Efficiency: Strategies for Physicians to Establish a Productive Daily Routine

Prepare A To-Do List With Priority Levels

Prioritizing daily or weekly tasks is a simple yet effective method a clinician can implement to increase productivity, whether you use software to keep track of these or a simple app on your smartphone. Each task can be based on the levels of importance, with the urgent tasks ranking from the top such as tending to high-priority consultations. Set aside the remaining time to schedule any required paperwork and mandated administrative tasks.

Complete the tasks in order of urgency and move on to the next task only upon completion of the previous one. This strategic approach to work tasks helps improve focus and reduce stress while completing the allotted urgent tasks. Review the task sheet at the end of the day and make necessary changes, if required, for the next day. There may also be unexpected emergencies despite a planned schedule, so allotting some time for such emergencies is ideal. The ability to adapt quickly and flexibility are key skills to overcome this challenge and have a productive daily routine.

Delegate Non-Essential Tasks

In tandem with preparing a daily task schedule, delegating work is another practice that doctors should adopt to maintain a productive daily routine. Certain administrative tasks and minor clinical duties can be delegated to other members of the team, or support staff instead of the physician personally handling all the work. Ensure the team is competent enough to handle the day-to-day non-essential tasks, so the clinician has peace of mind and the time to work on more important tasks like catering to emergencies and daily patient care. The team can work on invoicing and billing, report generation, and appointment scheduling, thereby freeing up a considerable amount of time for doctors to primarily focus on the core responsibilities. This helps reduce any potential burnout while also improving patient outcomes.

Clinicians must equip themselves with trained professionals to ensure effective delegation of tasks. To achieve a productive daily routine, the physician lead must define the roles and responsibilities of each team member for smooth operations. Training team members as per the requirements and responsibilities is a good investment that will help in the long run.

Embrace Technology 

In the age of digitalization, the healthcare industry is not far behind. There are a range of technologically advanced solutions engineered to streamline administrative processes, improve patient care, and enhance overall efficiency. These effectively revolutionize the way healthcare services are delivered and allow doctors to have a more productive daily routine. Several platforms and solutions are available in the market that are targeted at not just enhancing patient care but also reducing the burden on healthcare providers with its host of features and benefits. In addition to catering to patients, there are solutions designed to assist clinicians, administrators, Chief Medical Officers and Medical Directors, Chief Financial Officers, Legal and Compliance teams, Contract Managers, and more.

With an influx of solution providers permeating the healthcare industry, healthcare organizations must invest in an expert solution provider possessing a solution that meets all their unique needs. Opt for a holistic healthcare-focused software solution equipped to automate and simplify healthcare time tracking and contract management, assure payment efficiency, and ensure the enforcement of contract compliance and other key requirements all in one platform. Make use of contract management policy templates, and Medical Director activity log templates to minimize time spent on paperwork and contribute to a productive daily routine.

The Importance of Self-Care

Doctors should also prioritize self-care so as to prevent any potential burnout. A doctor’s practice can be a demanding profession, so maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential to maintaining a productive daily routine. Regular exercise or some form of activity like cycling, walking (getting our steps in!), deep breathing practices, an adequate amount of sleep, and a balanced diet can help reduce any work stress and improve focus which will lead to better work outcomes. Spending quality time with friends and family can help provide a much-needed break. Dedicating time for self-care can be challenging for a doctor who maintains long work hours, so start small until these good habits are successfully integrated into day-to-day life. 

While it may sound simple, incorporating these practices can help doctors have a productive daily routine and reduce stress while delivering quality patient care. Read more of our physician productivity articles on our blog and follow us on LinkedIn for more.