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Your team is a vital asset. Most orthodontists realize this, but many attempt to hold to administrative and other nonclinical tasks best performed by the team. Remember, you’re the most productive when you’re chairside providing patient care.
Every orthodontist needs to ask himself or herself this question: "What nonclinical duties am I currently performing that could be delegated to other team members?" When orthodontists sit down and make a list of everything they do, they are often amazed at how many activities they perform that are not related to caring for patients or running the practice.
The next step is to ask yourself two questions:
1) What can be immediately delegated to team members?
2) What activities will require training for team members?
Delegate what you can, and then provide appropriate training to team members for the more complicated activities. The goal is for you to spend 98% of your time on direct patient care. This is what you were trained to do, and this is where you are most effective and productive.
Good orthodontic leaders empower their teams. Compared to other specialists, orthodontists rely on their teams more heavily and delegate more frequently. But there is always room for improvement.
Take a look at what activities you are performing in addition to patient care. If these duties can be given to team members, start delegating! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is, how your team will step up, and how much more productive your practice will become.
Orthodontic Products’ readers are entitled to receive a 20% courtesy on the Total Ortho Success Seminar scheduled for October 28–29 in Las Vegas. To receive this courtesy, call (888) 973-0000 and mention "Ortho Products" or e-mail [email protected] with "Ortho Products" in the subject line.
