Recently I discovered the blog Ideal Medical Practices which is a group or collaborative blog (like I’m working to build here at PrivatePractice.MD). In their own words, the authors state their blog’s purpose is “to pursue, support, evaluate, and educate others with regard to delivering superb health care in a vital and sustainable environment. ” I share that goal!

Currently they are sponsoring a blogging contest for participants at their IMP Camp in Seattle, WA August 14-15, 2009. Participants will blog at the camp about their concept of an ideal medical practice.

Go check it out. I think you’ll find it as useful and interesting as I have!

Many “best practices” are being developed as protocols and as we become aware of them we will post them on the PrivatePractice.MD website (probably under the “Resources” section). I list here just a few situations which call for planned actions, organized as a protocol:

1.) Patient Emergency in your office. Do you have a code cart? Is it fully stocked with necessary equipment and medications that haven’t expired? When was the last time its items were checked? Do you know which drawer holds the ambu bag? While you attend to the ill patient, did your staff call 911 for the ambulance? Is a staff member controlling the situation in the waiting room? Are other patients peering out of their exam rooms in response to the ruckus? Obviously you need to think through such a possibility well before such a situation arises, and run a “mock code” in your office just like you did in residency.

2.) What about fire drills? Does everyone know where your fire extinguishers are and if they should even attempt to use them? Do you smoke detectors have fresh batteries placed in them every six months? How will you get your old or very young patients out of the office to safety if there is a fire? You need to practice a fire drill once in a while also.

3.) How do you handle patients who might have TB, or chicken pox, or some other highly contagious disease as they come through your office? Do you meet them outside and put a mask on them before they enter your office? Does your staff know how you want them to guide these patients through their visit with you?

4.) The front desk personnel have their own full set of issues to handle, and protocols would be wisely prepared and practiced. What happens if a dangerous person shows up in the waiting room, perhaps an irate ex-spouse who just heard his child is there for an “emergency”? How do they process phone calls to you from other doctors? Are those calls prioritized, so that you’re interrupted or paged when a doctor calls to speak with you? How are faxes and mail handled? Who keeps the waiting room and bathrooms for patient’s use clean and tidy during the day? How are urgent appointments scheduled? Are they squeezed in or are there “acute slots” available?

The list of situations needing protocols is a pretty long one and we’ll be discussing it on an on-going basis. Just be sure to think about developing protocols when starting your practice, and as a repeating exercise as you go through your private practice day. Keep thinking, “How can I automate and delegate” this task so I’m most efficient and utilize my expertise best?