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Tip of the week: Time management skills for MSPs

Medical Staff Leader Connection, April 16, 2008

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The medical staff professional’s job is always going to be stressful, and there is no way of getting around that. Many of the areas of stress that MSPs deal with are ones that cannot be removed, but there are some things MSPs can do to reduce stress in the workplace, including honing their time management skills.

The following tips can help MSPs better manage their time:

• Establish goals and set priorities. At the beginning of each day, list long-term and short-term tasks in order of importance. Because of the nature of the job, don’t be surprised if your priorities change daily.
• Determine what work, if any, can be delegated. Make a list of the tasks you perform for other departments. You may find that you are only doing these jobs because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” Bring this list to your superior(s) and request help finding someone else to do tasks that are not a priority to the MSO, such as updating and copying physician rosters to send to the nursing units. Start by delegating tasks that have a low priority on your daily list and work up to the more important ones.
• Group jobs by activity. If you have to take reports to the quality improvement department and you know that you will have to take your time sheets to accounting later in the afternoon, wait until the time sheets are signed and make both trips at once. Place all documents that need to be copied together and make one trip to the copy machine. Make a folder for all your filing and do it at one time.
• Take time for yourself. Use your lunch time and breaks. Don’t eat at your desk while working. Take a 15-minute walk in the afternoon. Go outside if it is nice. The place will not fall down if you leave for 15 minutes, and remember that you are not going to benefit your organization if you develop symptoms of job-related stress.

The preceding information was adapted from Assessing your Medical Staff Office: Tools for Productivity by Beverly Pybus, CPMSM, and Nancy Lian, CPCS, CPMSM.

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