Have ideas that will improve your practice? Find the win-win.

Give your ideas to improve your practice their best shot by finding a win-win solution.

How often have you gotten excited about an idea to improve your practice…only to have someone shoot it down? What happens next? All too often, it leads to apathy –> frustration –> resignation. You’re left with a “that’s the way it is” acceptance.

How can we change this?  Because there are competing factors that are all true:

1. Hospital admin, clinic and nursing managers have to make sure all members of the team are working within scope.
2. If different specialties are sharing resources, it shouldn’t be a matter of “the loudest voice wins”.
3. As the physician providing patient care, you have a front-row seat to what’s going on and some good ideas on how to improve any issues.

Can we break the cycle? How do we manage these factors and still make a difference?

Find the win-win.

What is the win-win?

You’ve probably heard of the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (look at that…effective people, not just efficient people…cough cough).

One of the habits discussed in the book is finding a win-win solution. This means finding a solution that benefits both parties. The key is making it easy for the other party to say yes, because the change also makes their world a little bit better.

It is easier said than done, but with a bit of creativity and persistence, it is possible.

When the Answer Was No…

When I first hired a practice extender (in my case, a nurse), I wanted her to come into the hospital on certain days in addition to time at the office.

I did my due diligence, confirming that the hospital’s HR and nursing unions would allow this. I thought this was a slam-dunk.

However, clinic and nursing administrators had concerns. Because of the people vying for clinic space, their concern was that I couldn’t use more resources (e.g. rooms, trays, instruments, or nursing support) than I already did.

Oof. Here I was, feeling like I used my (limited) mental energy to solve a problem, and it was almost dead in the water before it ever had a chance.

But I was determined to make this work. Enter the search for a win-win solution.  A solution that benefited them and made it impossible to say no.

And How I Turned It Into a “Yes”

Here’s where we landed: a parallel workflow made possible by carefully selected patients and a more efficient use of resources.

My extender used one of the rooms already assigned to me.  She saw consults that were either managed conservatively or didn’t require an urgent add-on procedure (ex. a biopsy). Any follow-ups on “her” list would typically be ones that did not require bandage changes or suture removals.

While she sees “her” list, I am in another room doing procedures. She gets the history and discusses treatment options (using a patient information sheet) or what to expect in recovery. I pop over while the procedure room is being turned over (since my post-op instructions are written out I don’t have to spend a ton of time on them), confirm the presentation and review the important information and then the patient is sent on their way.

Why it worked:

• It addressed their concern: I didn’t require any additional rooms, trays or hospital support. (Win!)
• It helped my practice: I was booked solid with procedures, while additional consultations and follow-ups were still being completed (Win!)

Together – it was a win-win. We proposed a one-month trial. That was two years ago and no one has ever asked to reassess.

How to Give Your Ideas to Improve Your Practice a Chance

Coming up with ideas to improve care and flow isn’t easy. If your pitch gets a ‘no,’ it often means the solution isn’t a win-win yet. Sometimes we have to go back to the drawing board, rework it and find the angle that benefits everyone.

When you come back with a version that solves others’ concerns and makes your day easier, you give your idea a real fighting chance.

And don’t forget: one of those wins should always be you. Your time, your workload and your mental energy are worth protecting.

Find the Win-Win to Improve Your Practice

Do you have an example of a win-win in your practice? Or do you have an idea to improve your practice that has been previously rejected?