3 Productive Things to Do When Closed
Instead of worrying about losing loyal patients, close your practice and pay your staff for accomplishing the tasks they can't get to when seeing patients. This is more of a viable option for established, independently owned practices that have a stock of cash they can rely on for a few days. Your staff can organize the office files and inventory, explore new software to make their workflow more efficient, negotiate lower pricing with vendors, do a deep clean of equipment and furnishings, and maybe even get a day off if you're gone a long time.
Online Training
If you're leaving for an event or CE, why not have your staff do some skill-building as well? Ask each employee what existing skills they'd like to build on or what new skills they'd appreciate learning. Pay for a Lynda, UDemy, or Skillshare subscription for the practice so that they can watch videos and take quizzes on their desired course. Depending on how long you're gone, maybe they could complete a whole course and present an action plan on what they learned and how it applies to your practice.
Software Comparison
While you're doing an inventory of your equipment and tools, you might find your practice can consolidate its tools. Make a list of your needs when it comes to your medical equipment, patient demographics, EHR, and practice management software. Request your office manager attend virtual demonstrations with multiple software vendors and spend time researching your practice's needs. When you return, you can discuss the pros and cons of the software available on the market. Usually this takes hours away from exam slots, but you will feel relaxed if you have time to research without patients coming in and out of the office.
