Peer connection, mentorship, access to key stakeholders. It’s hard for doctors to succeed without them. But if you’re transitioning to practice after completing your residency or fellowship training, how can you know if your employer feels the same?
An AMA STEPS Forward® toolkit details some of the best practices employers should follow to pave the way for physician success, satisfaction and well-being. Its content can help job applicants determine whether prospective employers provide adequate onboarding.
“Relationship building speaks to the culture of the organization. If you don't have access to clinical leadership on day one, that says something,” said Sea Chen, MD, PhD, physician director of practice sustainability at the AMA.
“That access gives the new physician a level of confidence that there are people who are looking out for them, there are clinical leaders there to help them through what could be a pretty stressful time,” added Dr. Chen, who co-wrote the onboarding toolkit with Jenn Balchunas, LPN, MHL, CPC.
The AMA Transitioning to Practice series has guidance and resources on deciding where to practice, negotiating an employment contract, managing work-life balance, and other essential tips about starting in practice.
Must-have weekly meetings
The toolkit recommends having the following meetings in the first several weeks of employment:
A touchpoint with the medical director. This gives the physician an opportunity to work through helpful topics, the toolkit notes. These include “any clinical best practices for the location; how to place referrals for internal resources, such as care management, social work and a dietician; the expected turnaround time for referrals, etc.,” it says.
The toolkit also advises employers to discuss the expectations for closing charts, turnaround time for answering patient messages and addressing results, and how the organization handles controlled substance dispensing and death certificates.
“It is also important to point out organizational committees and meetings are available to the physician/[nonphysician provider] and encourage their engagement and participation,” it says. “This encouragement shows that their input is valued and their time in attendance on these committees or meetings is important and welcomed.”
A sit-down with the practice manager, clinical coordinator, floor lead or clinic lead. This enables the new physician to “build a crucial relationship and learn more about their care team,” the toolkit says.
Items to talk through “include the clinical workflows, scope of practice of the clinical teammates (which is helpful when working in a location that has certified, licensed, and registered teammates), the triage protocols for how in-clinic emergencies are handled, and emergency medications and procedures.”
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Don’t stop there
The toolkit lists several other staff members who can be helpful to young physicians. They include:
- The compliance or coding team, who may have tips and tricks about documentation requirements, as well as billing and coding.
- A compensation team member. “While not every organization is able to provide direct access to the compensation team, it is helpful to provide information to help physicians understand the compensation model and interpret their productivity data.”
- A clinical quality coach, who can provide insights on quality measures and how to meet them in the EHR.
“Optimizing the onboarding process for new physicians and [nonphysician providers] is crucial for enhancing physician well-being, job satisfaction and patient care outcomes,” the toolkit says. “A thorough, well-structured onboarding experience helps new hires feel valued and supported from day one, leading to higher retention rates, improved morale and better patient satisfaction.”
The toolkit also features sample conversation guides developed by an academic health system in Illinois for primary care practice managers to use with new physicians during onboarding.
For residents transitioning to practice or those already in practice who are considering a midcareer switch, a separate AMA STEPS Forward toolkit, “What to Look for in Your First or Next Practice: Evaluate the Practice Environment to Match Your Priorities,” will help you identify available practice settings and understand how they may impact your experience, clarify your priorities, and tailor your search for a fulfilling career in a positive and supportive environment.
Learn more about optimizing onboarding in an Aug. 26 AMA STEPS Forward Innovation Academy webinar on the subject featuring Dr. Chen and Balchunas. Register now.
