Data, facts and instruments on the German health system
What it’s all about
Medical assistants are playing an increasingly important role in family and specialist practices. Delegating tasks to female staff has long since ceased to be a necessity based on the principle of division of labor, and is now an opportunity for physicians in private practice to optimize their workflow and patient care. Yet most practice owners delegate incorrectly.
Increasing efficiency and reducing workload
Delegating tasks to staff offers physicians in private practice an enormous workload reduction. But most practice owners merely hand over tasks instead of giving staff responsibility for task completion. Physicians who merely hand over tasks need not be surprised that there are repeated queries during the execution and thus no greater relief.
The effects of the responsibility transfer
Transferring responsibility to medical assistants promotes their professional competence and strengthens their personal responsibility. By giving them responsibility, the employees are also encouraged to continuously develop their knowledge and skills. They can make decisions independently and take responsibility for their actions. This leads to an increase in job satisfaction and enables them to play a more active role in patient care.
The transfer of responsibility has the same effect on the quality of patient care. Female employees are able to act more flexibly, react quickly to changes and organize the workflow in the practice more efficiently. They are able to independently perform minor medical procedures and improve patient contact. This improves patient care overall.
And last but not least, there is a strengthening of the practice team and the promotion of a cooperative working environment. As the medical assistants take on responsibility, a culture of trust and cooperation is created between them and the physicians. This leads to a harmonious work environment where everyone can focus on their strengths. However, clear communication and training are necessary to ensure that the transfer of responsibility occurs smoothly.
Conclusion and further information
The transfer of responsibility results in medical assistants acting independently, making decisions and managing workflow more efficiently. This situation allows physicians to focus on their complex medical tasks and make the best use of their time. The topic of “delegation” is also an analysis aspect of practice management benchmarking, a method of comparing practice work and its effects in a 360-degree view with the best practice standard of practice management. Would you like to know how the convenience approach works and what benefits it offers? Then you should take a look at the free publication “Benchmarking Practice Management for Family Physicians and Specialists – Method, Application and Benefits”. It describes in detail how you as a GP or specialist can benefit from this approach. Just send an email to post@ifabs.de to receive the publication.
R2049 