Help practice managers with specific performance goals

Photo credit: Getty/Olivier Le Moal

Behind every well-run medical practice is a strong practice manager.

To evaluate your practice manager’s performance, set specific performance goals that reflect an efficient medical practice, write consultants George Conomikes and Richard G. Scoby, in Physicians Practice.

These objectives must measure how well your practice manager does with billing and collections, general financial management, personnel management, marketing and promotion of the practice, self-development and leadership skills, they say.

For instance, goals to measure self-development might include whether your practice manager enrolls in management training programs, networks with other managers in your area and subscribes to practice management publications. Goals to measure billing and collections can include a 95 percent or better net collection percentage or the need to address denials within three business days.

In larger practices, the practice manager or administrator may have a wider range of responsibilities. Be sure to include those skills, such as budgeting, profit planning and negotiations with managed care plans, in your evaluation, Conomikes and Scoby write. 

Then determine whether your manage exceeds, meets or fails to meet each performance goal. If a manager does not meet goals, come up with a corrective action plan and set a timetable for improvement.

Your practice manager then can manage the other members of your practice team and ensure he or she address their performance issues.