Running an allied health practice is not easy. Managing staff, contractors, patients and all in the face of private health fund, medical practice and pharmaceutical pressures and influences.
So when it comes to choosing your team I recommend you do all that can do to get it right from the outset.
Firstly, hire a Human Resource Manager. Most small business’s outsource, and we recommend ‘Employsure’. This company ensures I comply with Worksafe contracts, agreements, wage rates and awards. They also oversee performance reviews and conflict management from a legal and ethical viewpoint.
Secondly, ensure you have a clear recruitment strategy. This means creating a clear plan much like a treatment plan, where you are clear on the entire process, from advertments, to phone interview questions to final interview procedure. I also recommend outsourcing a recruitment specialist, someone who can improve the likelihood of finding that ‘grade A’ team member.
Thirdly, have a clear induction process. All our new team members go thru an induction training process which essentially lasts for their 3mo probationary period. This involves one on ones, training video’s and written procedures.
The whole process can take up to 6 months. I strongly recommend you take this process very slowly. It is very expensive if they don’t work out and you have to start over.
On the flip side, if you have followed all these steps not only are unlikely to find the wrong fit, if for whatever reason, they aren’t a fit, you are well positioned to ‘fire quickly’ and I recommend you do so.
Your Human Resource advisors can assist you with an expedient process to manage your practitioner or staff member ‘out’ smoothly, i.e. within 6wks if not sooner.
So if you hire slowly, if you need to, you can then fire quickly, no drama’s.
About the author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold (Chiropractor) is a Chiropractic Doctor, and Owner, Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre. He is also a Wellness Leader Mentor working with the Wellness Leadership Revolution and running his own program, the Million Dollar Wellness Practice. Andrew shares this ownership with his wife, Dr. Linda Wilson.