Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1412801
107 107 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP 3. e scenario that uniformly generates the highest willingness to pay is the chance to have a predictable commute, and people usually price it in the $125-$250 range. is prioritization highlights how stressful the unpredictability of clinical practice can be. Physicians are giving of their time but they also need boundaries that protect them. If you need to pick up your child at daycare before it closes, the prospect of seeing the urgent additional patient, who also really needs you, becomes very stressful. I'd also note that while physicians used to be able to sign out their beeper to someone covering, the ubiquity of email and texting has melted these boundaries. I've received urgent clinical emails multiple times while on vacation. What if I didn't see or answer them? e expectation of being always available, even when you shouldn't be, adds to the stress. 4. e question about how much you would value having someone else take care of time-consuming interactions for you, described in this scenar- io as taking your mother-in-law's calls, illustrates the meaning of "mar- ginal value." Depending on how oen you end up on the phone with your mother-in-law hearing about Helen's gout and Geraldine's dog's inconti- nence, or whether your mother-in-law is usually calling to offer to help with the kids because she made a massage appointment for you, will result in a very different value to having someone else answer the call. In the clinical corollary, some patients, as would be expected, have difficulty telling their experience and synthesizing their history into a brief narrative. Another similarity is the call from the patient whose clinical status is unpredictable but who is emotionally tiring to man- age. Having a trusted intermediary, such as a nurse or advance practice provider who can help manage the emotional aspects of the patient's needs and condense elucidate relevant clinical information can expe- dite the conversation in a more productive way — and in some cases might solve the problem altogether. 5. Most people taking my survey are willing to pay a moderate amount of money to help get a highly technical time-consuming task, like ap- plying for a passport, situated. In the era of EHRs, this scenario high- lights the level of data entry that physicians currently are responsible for managing. Part of the hesitation is likely that there are some things that only the treating physician can reliably know or interpret. Howev- er, scribes, voice dictation and automation are all areas that can reduce the burden of this kind of data management — even if the physician needs to review the record aer it has been entered. 6. Generally, participants aren't willing to spend much to ensure they experience their book club, usually maxing out around $25. But that trade off may also be a significant mistake. Multiple studies have shown that time with colleagues, continuing medical education activ- ities and learning more material are highly protective against burnout. Physicians and their organizations might want to invest more in their well-being, which in this case doesn't cost very much. Conscious use of marginal time to combat physician burnout Simply engaging in the above exercise begins a conversation about avoidable stress and changing our thinking around the value of our time and, more importantly, the value of certain kinds of time. Once we are aware of our choices — some that we were making without even realizing it — we can change the choices we make. It's great if your organization recognizes this also, but even if it doesn't it's well worth being thoughtful about the choices you control as well. Spend the money to have your nanny arrive a half hour earlier — if all is calm, you can still spend that half hour with your children, which will be money very well spent. Pay for the scribe (or the household help, dry cleaning delivery service, etc.). Finding the areas where we can control stress — and properly valuing our time in deciding to pay to create more of it — are essential skills that make us more productive, happier, more effective and better physicians — not to mention better parents, spouses and friends. n Content management built for healthcare enterprises, by healthcare professionals © 2021 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. All rights reserved. Find QuestQuanum on: For more than 25 years, Quanum Enterprise Content Solutions has empowered leading healthcare organizations to stay ahead of trends and demands. Our customers know they can rely on us for timely updates and seamless integrations that keep them positioned competitively at the forefront of technology. Discover how we can help your hospital or health system establish a more complete, current, and accurate care profile with Quanum Enterprise Content Solutions. Contact us today at QuanumECS@QuestDiagnostics.com. QuanumECS.com