A GP practice manager is someone who has to adapt to a whole range of different roles and responsibilities; an employee that wears many different hats. Whether you’ve been a practice manager for a month or have been in this career for years, there’s no end to the learning and progression. If you want to run your GP practice as efficiently as possible then here are the 7 golden rules every manager should know.

1. Build a strong workforce

This is number one on our list for a whole host of good reasons. Without a strong workforce behind you it can be virtually impossible to run an efficient GP practice. Recruitment is the first step, but it is important to think about training, CRB / DBS checks, human resources and complaints management too. Every team member will play their own part in creating a happy and productive working environment. Once you’ve got a strong workforce in place it will become easier to work on the other golden rules.

2. Make use of new technology  

Technology is changing on an almost daily basis and it’s important to keep your GP practice up to date. There are dozens of new management softwares that can help minimise the time it takes to complete vital tasks and increase productivity; including rota and holiday scheduler software, payroll products, patient management systems and dictation tools. Make sure you embrace new technology as a way to help your GP practice become more efficient.

3. Communicate with your patients

A key to a happy GP practice is happy patients, which means keeping in constant contact with them. By communicating on a regular basis with your patients you can reduce the risk of complaints and poor feedback. Newsletters, e-mails, text reminders, patient information leaflets and an updated website are just some of the ways to keep in constant communication with your patients.

4. Manage your money effectively

Managing money can give every GP practice manager a headache at some point; especially when it comes to the end of the tax year. As with building a strong workforce, make sure you also have a strong financial team behind you. Payroll managers and accountants will become your best friends throughout your career so ensure you pick wisely. They need to be good at their job, but also have a personality you can see yourself working with for a long time to come.

5. Maintain your premises regularly

There are two key reasons for keeping a well maintained GP practice; happy staff and happy patients. Of course there are legal implications to consider as well, including health and safety regulations. By keeping your premises maintained on a regular basis you can ensure maximum efficiency from your workforce and reduce the risk of big maintenance work needed, which can impact patient happiness. Make sure you carry out regular building checks and deal with any small problems before they escalate.

6. Be prepared for complaints

However hard you work on keeping staff and patients happy there are bound to be complaints at some point in your career. The truth is, we can’t keep everyone happy all of the time. By being fully prepared for complaints you will reduce the time it takes to deal with each situation. You may wish to consider hiring a complaints management company that can reduce the pressure on you and your team.

7. Be organised

Being organised is a must-have skill for any GP practice manager and is our 7th golden rule! You are guaranteed to run far more efficiently if you keep on top of everything, all in one place. Make use of lists, productivity software and company directories in order to stay as organised as possible. By keeping on top of this rule you will find that the others fall into place naturally, making your life easier and more efficient.