Huddles: jump start your practice today

A few minutes spent preparing with your team for the day’s schedule can improve your efficiency. Here’s how to get started:

1. Invite only the necessary people. Key participants are usually nurses, medical assistants, receptionists, and physicians.

2. Limit the huddle to seven minutes or less. Having everyone stand during the meeting will help keep it short and focused.

3. Have an agenda. The main purpose of the huddle is to check the schedule for potential slowdowns so you can proactively address them. For example, are there any patients who may require more time or assistance due to age, disability, etc.? Who can help? Are there any back-to-back lengthy appointments, such as physicals? Are there any openings that can be filled or chronic no-shows that can be anticipated? Which patients will need to have test results or notes from other physicians ready in the chart?

When everyone on the team knows the game plan for the day, office efficiency improves and, with it, staff satisfaction.

Adapted from “Huddles: Improve Office Efficiency in Mere Minutes.”