1% Wins Gold Medals + Transforms Medical Practice Efficiency

How many times a day do you catch yourself saying the same thing over and over? Let’s be real: this is a medical practice efficiency ☠️ sentence.

If you’re really type A (ahem…🙋‍♀️), tally it up – it might shock you.

You could be spending minutes per day repeating yourself on predictable questions or common concerns. This doesn’t just eat up your time, it also costs you on-ration reserves. And it’s not very effective.

You’re thinking: I need more than a few minutes to change my life

Yeah – you do.

Saving 3-5 minutes a day won’t transform your life, restore your soul or give you time for a *gasp* hobby.

But saving a few minutes a day is the first kick of momentum.

Quick math: 4-5 small changes that each save 3 min = 15 min/day = >1 hour per week.

This is the power of small changes – aka 1% marginal gains.

The 1% gains you’re already seeing (but missing)

We see the power of 1% gains every day.

The UK cycling team used 15% gains to become the dominant cycling team in the world. Top business CEOs and mega car companies all attribute their success to prioritizing 1% gains, not sweeping overhauls.

If 1% gains can win gold medals, create business moguls and fuel vehicle world domination – we can make it work for our medical practice efficiency too.

Easiest first step: Answer questions before they happen

Cut down the time and energy sink of all that repetition by answering the questions before they ever get asked.

One simple way? Create a FAQ sheet(s) for patients.

If you have email systems in place, you could send a routine email after X procedure, Y medication initiation or Z treatment plan.

This can save you questions while the patient is in the room and potentially avoid preventable visits – which is a win-win for you, your soul and the patients.

Buckle up and let’s get this done

Step 1: Jot down any common patient questions or concerns

• Can’t think of all of them now? Keep a running list this week and ask your admin.

Step 2: Organize the questions and their answers

• This could be on a single FAQ page or a couple if there are different types of topics.
• Example: if you do hip and knee arthroplasty, maybe you have a post-op FAQ with the common questions and what would be considered ‘normal’ progression back to activity.
• You could also add recommendations to reliable existing online resources.

Step 3: Create your FAQ sheet(s), emails or website page

• This doesn’t have to be pretty or fancy (of course they can be) – the goal is completion.
• Think grade 8 level or below, large font and easy wording.

Step 4: Get these to patients, and notice the difference

• Have your FAQ sheet(s) available to give to patients in clinic, at the office, in your work bag – anywhere you could use them.
• Have your team include them in any OR packages patients receive.
• Set the emails to send automatically after treatment initiation or a given procedure.
• Put the info on your website if you have one.

There you have it – a little pep talk and hopefully less repetition = more medical practice efficiency = more time and bandwidth back in your life.

Let us know in the comments: what would an extra per week mean for you?