Creating an Effective Dermatology Office: Medical Assistants & Nurses

We have medical assistants and nurses working in our offices to support our work with patients. In order for these assistants to be effective, they need training. MDs need to communicate with their assistants so they can helpful. It is about creating an effective and amicable working relationship with your assistants. Here are some tips to train effective medical assistants:

• It is important that new hires have a thorough orientation to the medical office before they start work.

• Create a written orientation guide. This guide should emphasize expectations and describe all their duties in detail upfront. In the guide, clearly delineate what is in the scope of their practice and what is out of bounds.

• Establish set check-in times. Don’t wait until your medical assistant or nurse is creating glaring problems to set up a check-in times. Have one-month, three-month, six-month and annual check-ins with all your medical staff. This way you can re-affirm effective behavior and correct unhelpful habits before they become a nuisance for your office. It also ensures fair treatment — no one will wonder why you met with Chris, but didn’t meet with Sally on their six-month work anniversary.

Effective medical assistants and nurses should help you move manage patient visits efficiently.

• Medical assistants can help set appointment agenda with your patients before you get to the office. Read more about setting patient expectations here.

• Nurses and medical assistants should also prepare the room for you before you walk in. They can prepare the tools you may need. E.g. If it sounds like you will may need to do a biopsy, they should get the appropriate tools ready for you.

Effective medical assistants and nurses should ease the administrative burden.

• Medical assistants should understand the basics of dermatology. With this knowledge you can put them in charge of patient call backs, so that they can explain laboratory and biopsy results accurately data.  However, for this to actually be effective delegation of duties, as the MD, you must be clear on what instructions to give. Further you may want to handle complicated or highly sensitive results yourself.

• With the proper training, medical assistants and nurses can help you scribe or prepare your notes in the room. They can also help prep prescription and laboratory orders for you.

An office with effective, well-trained medical assistants and nurses is like a happy well-oiled machine. Everything will run more smoothly. Your patients, your staff and you yourself will feel the difference — there will be less burnout for MDs and medical staff.