Why German doctors don’t implement time tracking despite unnecessary activities and high stress levels

What it’s all about

The majority of German GPs and specialists complain about a significant lack of time. However, only very few carry out analyses of the causes. Yet work analyses, in which practice owners document and evaluate their daily activities over a longer period of time (time tracking), show that around a third of the time spent can be saved through reorganisation. This article sheds light on the psychological reasons for the phenomenon of “unwillingness to analyse” and examines the underlying mechanisms.

Continue reading “Why German doctors don’t implement time tracking despite unnecessary activities and high stress levels” →

Outpatient medicine in Germany: GPs and specialists show a pronounced resistance to counselling when it comes to improvements in practice management

What it’s all about

General practitioners and specialists in Germany face a variety of challenges in managing their practices. However, despite a noticeable increase in work pressure, practice owners do not implement around half of the regulations, tools and behaviours that are essential for a smoothly functioning practice, even under changing circumstances. They have had to inflict the resulting effects on themselves, their staff and their patients on a daily basis and are resistant to external advice. There are various reasons for this rejection, which are rooted in both personal and structural factors.

Continue reading “Outpatient medicine in Germany: GPs and specialists show a pronounced resistance to counselling when it comes to improvements in practice management” →

Digitalization in German medical practices: Often built on sand

What it’s all about

Practice management comparisons show that German GPs and specialists who introduce digital solutions in their practices are dissatisfied with the effects. Some even complain that, contrary to expectations, this even leads to a permanent increase in workload. The reason for this is the under-appreciated phenomenon of the digital readiness gap.

Continue reading “Digitalization in German medical practices: Often built on sand” →

Outpatient medicine in Germany: The appearance of efficiency vs. the reality of practice management

The elegant ship as a symbol of perfection

On the cover picture we see two contrasting images: On the one hand, an elegant, snow-white passenger ship on a sales brochure and, on the other, a run-down, oily ship’s engine. The ship represents the appearance of perfection and efficiency. It stands for the image that many German doctors have or would like to have of their practice – clean, smoothly functioning and attractive to patients.

Continue reading “Outpatient medicine in Germany: The appearance of efficiency vs. the reality of practice management” →

How ecophobia is hindering the development of outpatient medicine in Germany

What it’s all about

The German healthcare system, particularly in the area of doctors in private practice, is undergoing rapid change, driven by digitalisation, regulatory changes and changing patient expectations. Against this backdrop, GPs and specialists are faced with the question of how they can align their practice management with change in the short, medium and long term in such a way that they retain active control over the organisation of their practice work and do not become “victims” of the changes. The strategy required for this is entrepreneurial practice management in the form of professionally implemented best practice practice management. However, the reality of implementing this approach in German medical practices has so far been very limited; one even has to speak of a kind of “ecophobia”, a fear or strong aversion to dealing with economic and management issues of one’s own practice management.

Continue reading “How ecophobia is hindering the development of outpatient medicine in Germany” →

Digitalization of outpatient medicine in Germany: Digital dissenters among GPs and specialists do not take these facts into account

What it’s all about

The digitalization of the healthcare system has gained rapid momentum in recent years, and patients increasingly expect doctors in private practice to offer professional digital solutions for their diagnostic and therapeutic options as well as service offerings. This expectation is not just a result of technological advances, but is deeply rooted in human psychology, a fact that the digital dissenters among practice owners do not take into account.

Continue reading “Digitalization of outpatient medicine in Germany: Digital dissenters among GPs and specialists do not take these facts into account” →

The consequences of the metricnorance of German GPs and specialists

What it’s all about

GPs and specialists in Germany traditionally have a distanced or even hostile attitude towards business management methods and instruments. In this context, there is also talk of “metricnorance”, formed from the words “metric” and “ignorance”. The term refers to the ignorance or deliberate disregard of important metrics that provide insights into what is happening in practice. In doing so, they overlook the immense potential for analysis and organisation that they are foregoing and which could help them to drastically improve not only the quality of their patient care, but also their own working conditions. The following example describes what practice owners are foregoing with a metricnorance mindset.

Continue reading “The consequences of the metricnorance of German GPs and specialists” →

Outpatient medicine in Germany and the psychology of opportunity costs

What it is about

The concept of opportunity costs is often understood as a purely economic principle that forms the basis for economic decisions through calculations and comparisons. However, a deeper look shows that it is also a basic mental attitude that extends far beyond the field of business administration and is deeply embedded in the psychology of human decision-making behaviour.

Continue reading “Outpatient medicine in Germany and the psychology of opportunity costs” →

Leaderwreck instead of leadership: The 5 key mistakes German GPs and specialists make in their role as team leaders

What it’s all about

The results of benchmarking studies on practice management show clear deficits among German GPs and specialists when it comes to leading their staff. This article highlights the five most common mistakes and explains the underlying psychological mechanisms.

Continue reading “Leaderwreck instead of leadership: The 5 key mistakes German GPs and specialists make in their role as team leaders” →

Outpatient care of the future in Germany: Not without business knowledge

What it’s all about

Doctors in private practice have a distant to negative relationship with the term “business management”. This is mainly due to ignorance and prejudice. However, this attitude means that important tools that can improve patient care, guarantee the flexibility required for transformation in the medium term and ensure the long-term success of the practice are not utilised.

Continue reading “Outpatient care of the future in Germany: Not without business knowledge” →