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Physicians should apply medical principles to practice management
 John B. Pinto |
KAANAPALI, Hawaii — To be a great practice manager or owner, physicians should apply the same medical principles they use on a daily basis and look at their practice as does the patient, according to a presenter here.
John B. Pinto used medical analogies as keys to improving practice management at a presentation at Hawaiian Eye 2011.
"The intellectual challenge and stakes of great practice 'doctoring' are as large as the challenge and stakes of being a great ophthalmologist," Mr. Pinto said.
He covered a number of practice pathologies ophthalmologists should be aware of in their daily practice.
One of the practice management illnesses Mr. Pinto listed was "adminorrhea," which is "characterized by bloated management ranks, endless meetings, elaborate feasibility studies and organization charts in 6-point type."
He recommended a combination therapy for this condition, including practice overhead sensitivity training and explanting segments of the organizational chart.
The most common signs of "metastatic overhead," another practice management illness according to Mr. Pinto, are staffing costs in excess of 32% of cash flow, facility costs in excess of 6% or marketing costs over 5%.
"Metastatic overhead responds best to dual therapy of gentle downward traction on costs and gentle upward traction on revenue," he said.
- Disclosure: John B. Pinto has no relevant financial interest to disclose.
Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2012 will be held January 15-20 at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui. Learn more at OSNHawaiianEye.com or RetinaMeeting.com.