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5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons

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5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons: Running a solo cosmetic surgery practice is a juggling act between being a great surgeon, visionary, patient advisor, and team manager, while also striving to maintain a smooth-running operation with seamless processes. Yikes! 

The only way to achieve all of this is with a cohesive and well-managed team. Because the interactions among your staff and how they treat patients can significantly influence the overall success of your practice. 

When everyone is on the same page and working harmoniously, you have created a team that cares about “the good of the practice” and not just about themselves. This creates a positive environment that patients can sense and appreciate.

That also helps eliminate, or at least decrease, unnecessary mistakes, drama, conflicts, and low morale.

So, how do you make that happen in your own practice? 

Here are 5 common mistakes made in managing a practice and solutions to fix or mitigate them….

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons #1: Lack of Team Dynamics

Hire the best team members you can afford who have the interest, drive and friendly disposition to work well as part of a team in harmony, so patient satisfaction improves and operations run smoothly. 

Solutions:

– Hold Weekly Team Meetings: Regular meetings provide a platform to share your successes and also your challenges so you can brainstorm solutions. You as the leader should regularly remind your team about your vision and expectations to keep them razor sharp and “in the game”.

 

– Develop an “Open-Communications” Policy: Do NOT surround yourself with “Yes” people who let you do all the thinking. Encourage staff to voice their concerns and suggestions, making them feel heard and valued. They have a different perspective that can help you make better decisions.

 

– Celebrate Your Wins: As the saying goes, “A team that works together, celebrates together” so give them a goal to hit and then celebrate with catered lunch, dinner out, or some other group activity that increases overall morale.

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5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons #2: Lack of Training and Development Opportunities

Continuous learning and growing is crucial to keep your team on their game and give you the competitive edge. Unfortunately, many practices fail to invest in staff training and development, leading to outdated methods, reduced patient satisfaction, and a demotivated workforce.

Solutions:

– Ongoing Learning Programs: Implement regular training programs to keep staff updated on the latest techniques, technologies and patient care protocols to ensure everyone is on the same page.

 

– Industry Conferences: Take your staff to your society’s conferences so they stay informed about current trends and best practices. They will bring back lots of ideas to execute.

 

– In-House Training: Your vendors are more than happy to bring you food and talk about new technologies, techniques, and marketing strategies to promote their products so take advantage of it.

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons #3: Poor Recognition and Reward Systems

Recognition and rewards are powerful motivators. However, many practices lack concrete systems to acknowledge their team’s efforts and contributions, leading to decreased motivation and job satisfaction, as well as costly higher turnover rates.

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons

Solutions:

– Formal Reward System: Establish a system to recognize and reward achievements, regardless of their size. However, be very clear what the goal and the reward is so there is no confusion. For example, when we reach $XX by [Date], you all leave early at 2pm on Friday.

 

– Vary the Rewards: If doesn’t always have to be money, although that is the most popular. You can offer PTO, additional vacation leave, or training opportunities as incentives.

 

– Regular Praise: “Thank You’ goes a long way so be sure to say it often. Recognizing great work and showing your appreciation for a job well done keeps your staff motivated to do their best because “Behavior that is rewarded is repeated”.

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons #4: Bad Communication and Feedback Loops

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons

Clear communication is the biggest culprit keeping you from building your dream practice. It’s vital to prevent mistakes, ensure clarity, and maintain high patient satisfaction. The alternative leads to confusion, errors and dissatisfaction.

Solutions:

– Morning Huddles: Hold a standing 20-minute morning huddle with the entire team or break it up by profit center if you are a big practice. Review the day, plan for trouble spots like double booking and keep communication lines open to ensure everyone is informed and clear.

 

– Digital Communication Tools: Utilize tools to keep all team members connected and informed. For example, you can use an internal texting service that keeps everyone updated.

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons #5: Lack of Patient-Centric Culture

Ultimately, patient satisfaction determines the success of your cosmetic surgery practice. Every staff member contributes to the patient experience, yet not all practices successfully adopt a patient-focused culture, missing opportunities to enhance patient loyalty and referrals.

5 Common Management Mistakes Made by Plastic Surgeons

Solutions:

– Customer Service Training: Offer on-going training so your team understands the importance of empathy and personalized customer service so your patients feel well cared for.

– Brainstorming Sessions: Brainstorm with your team to improve every step of the patient experience. 

– Patient Feedback Discussions: Regularly review patient feedback with the team and make necessary changes based on the reviews you are getting.

Conclusion

Improving your cosmetic surgery practice hinges on effective staff management and a focus on patient satisfaction. By addressing common mistakes and implementing these solutions, you can create a positive and efficient work environment. When your team feels valued and patients are happy, your practice will thrive. Embrace these strategies to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and excellence.

Let me know if you need with this part of your practice. Schedule a complimentary consultation here:

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TESTIMONIALS

Rated 5 out of 5
"Catherine outlined a plan that put key metrics in place, gave us a clear plan to follow throughout the year and trained our staff to increase their conversions by at least 10%. Since engaging with Catherine, I’m happy to report that revenues are up 15% over the last three months - 22% in the last month alone! I highly recommend Catherine’s consulting services to any practice looking for “best practice” additions to their operation."
drsigal 3
Robert Sigal, MD
"I have finally tapped into the most efficient way to grow my cosmetic practice and that is to “fish in the pond of my own patients”. When patients return to my practice, over 85% will purchase another service, product, or procedure. Not only was it worth over $200,000 in revenues this past year, it also reminds my patients I’m still around so they don’t wander off to my competitors. Catherine’s group has far exceeded our expectations and goals we had set up for them to achieve."
Victor Ferrari, MD
Victor Ferrari, MD
"Our consult conversions were running at 40-50%. Then we attended Catherine’s online training and implemented her strategies. They immediately increased conversion rates to 75-80%."
Anthony Corrado, MD
Anthony Corrado, MD
"I know how to run a profitable practice; however, it was not without major staff issues, inefficiencies and unproductive drama. With Catherine's guidance, I reorganized staff, set up processes for them to carry more of the workload and hold them accountable so I have more time to focus on patient care. The changes we put in place and the staff training to convert more callers and consultations will easily increase my revenues by 15% as well as save us time, money and costly mistakes. "
Evan Sorokin, MD
Evan Sorokin, MD
"Working with Catherine and her team has been very profitable. We’re only half way through the year and I’m up $200K and I’m booked out for the next 2 months even though we typically go into our slow summer months now. Her recent promotion brought in an extra $63,782 with more surgeries scheduled. I never realized how much money was sitting in my patient list but I’m a believer now!"
Plastic Surgeon Consulting Services
Robert Langdon, MD
"Catherine Maley has one of the best Marketing Minds in the aesthetic industry, bar none. She understands the aesthetic patient and she also understands the challenges and frustrations we face as aesthetic surgeons. You will benefit from Catherine's tools whether you are new in practice or a seasoned professional.Turn to Catherine for guidance - she knows what she's talking about."
Edwin Williams, MD
Edwin Williams, MD
“Catherine’s Cosmetic Patient Marketing Service has been a great addition to our practice-building overall plan. While we still invest in our online presence, we also found immense value in the internal marketing efforts. We especially like that all results are tracked so we know we are getting a great return ... last year it was 1,148% and no staff time was used. That’s a much easier way to grow my cosmetic practice.”
Mark Mason, MD
Mark Mason, MD
"Catherine Maley turned our practice around. We converted more consultations in one week than we did in an entire month. Our practice went from a painful 50% no show rate to a remarkable 85% show rate. Even more impressive was our close ratio - from 35% to 80% and still increasing. We would recommend her to any practice that’s looking to not only increase their profits today, but sustain a healthy flow of income for many years to come. Thanks Catherine!"
Sam Assassa, MD
Sam Assassa, MD
"Catherine found me the best patient care coordinator I could have asked for. She worked out a payment plan that was fair to me and motivating to my coordinator. She also provided training tools to help my coordinator convert better, even though she was already experienced. The results have been phenomenal. So good, in fact, that my income increased 250% and I’m booked out for 3 months. Don’t waste any more time or money doing it yourself. Outsource to someone you trust!"
Andrew Lofman, MD
Andrew Lofman, MD
"Since we’ve been working with Catherine and her team for the past 5 months, we’ve brought in $79K in surgeries and have booked an additional 17 surgical procedures and 20 non-invasive body procedures since then. This does not include the additional new patient referrals and revenues we are seeing from the on-going nurturing of my current patient database."
Verne Weisberg, MD
Verne Weisberg, MD
"I had given my staff the goal to convert at least $35K per week in surgeries AND I gave them the tools to help which was Catherine’s Online Learning Center at More Patients Academy. They watched Catherine’s modules and implemented her strategies and converted $80K! That equaled a 2,550% ROI. Nice!"
Adam Stein, MD
Adam Stein, MD
"Catherine outlined a plan that put key metrics in place, gave us a clear plan to follow throughout the year and trained our staff to increase their conversions by at least 10%. Since engaging with Catherine, I’m happy to report that revenues are up 15% over the last three months - 22% in the last month alone! I highly recommend Catherine’s consulting services to any practice looking for “best practice” additions to their operation."
Robert Sigal, MD
Robert Sigal, MD
"I have finally tapped into the most efficient way to grow my cosmetic practice and that is to “fish in the pond of my own patients”. When patients return to my practice, over 85% will purchase another service, product, or procedure. Not only was it worth over $200,000 in revenues this past year, it also reminds my patients I’m still around so they don’t wander off to my competitors. Catherine’s group has far exceeded our expectations and goals we had set up for them to achieve."
Victor Ferrari, MD
Victor Ferrari, MD
"Our consult conversions were running at 40-50%. Then we attended Catherine’s online training and implemented her strategies. They immediately increased conversion rates to 75-80%."
Anthony Corrado, MD
Anthony Corrado, MD
"I know how to run a profitable practice; however, it was not without major staff issues, inefficiencies and unproductive drama. With Catherine's guidance, I reorganized staff, set up processes for them to carry more of the workload and hold them accountable so I have more time to focus on patient care. The changes we put in place and the staff training to convert more callers and consultations will easily increase my revenues by 15% as well as save us time, money and costly mistakes. "
Evan Sorokin, MD
Evan Sorokin, MD
"Working with Catherine and her team has been very profitable. We’re only half way through the year and I’m up $200K and I’m booked out for the next 2 months even though we typically go into our slow summer months now. Her recent promotion brought in an extra $63,782 with more surgeries scheduled. I never realized how much money was sitting in my patient list but I’m a believer now!"
Robert Langdon, MD
Robert Langdon, MD
"Catherine Maley has one of the best Marketing Minds in the aesthetic industry, bar none. She understands the aesthetic patient and she also understands the challenges and frustrations we face as aesthetic surgeons. You will benefit from Catherine's tools whether you are new in practice or a seasoned professional.Turn to Catherine for guidance - she knows what she's talking about."
Edwin Williams, MD
Edwin Williams, MD
“Catherine’s Cosmetic Patient Marketing Service has been a great addition to our practice-building overall plan. While we still invest in our online presence, we also found immense value in the internal marketing efforts. We especially like that all results are tracked so we know we are getting a great return ... last year it was 1,148% and no staff time was used. That’s a much easier way to grow my cosmetic practice.”
Mark Mason, MD
Mark Mason, MD
"Catherine Maley turned our practice around. We converted more consultations in one week than we did in an entire month. Our practice went from a painful 50% no show rate to a remarkable 85% show rate. Even more impressive was our close ratio - from 35% to 80% and still increasing. We would recommend her to any practice that’s looking to not only increase their profits today, but sustain a healthy flow of income for many years to come. Thanks Catherine!"
Sam Assassa, MD
Sam Assassa, MD
"Catherine found me the best patient care coordinator I could have asked for. She worked out a payment plan that was fair to me and motivating to my coordinator. She also provided training tools to help my coordinator convert better, even though she was already experienced. The results have been phenomenal. So good, in fact, that my income increased 250% and I’m booked out for 3 months. Don’t waste any more time or money doing it yourself. Outsource to someone you trust!"
Andrew Lofman, MD
Andrew Lofman, MD
"Since we’ve been working with Catherine and her team for the past 5 months, we’ve brought in $79K in surgeries and have booked an additional 17 surgical procedures and 20 non-invasive body procedures since then. This does not include the additional new patient referrals and revenues we are seeing from the on-going nurturing of my current patient database."
Verne Weisberg, MD
Verne Weisberg, MD
"I had given my staff the goal to convert at least $35K per week in surgeries AND I gave them the tools to help which was Catherine’s Online Learning Center at More Patients Academy. They watched Catherine’s modules and implemented her strategies and converted $80K! That equaled a 2,550% ROI. Nice!"
Adam Stein, MD
Adam Stein, MD
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Catherine Maley

Catherine is a business/marketing consultant to plastic surgeons. She speaks at medical conferences all over the world on practice building, marketing and the business side of plastic surgery. Get a Free Copy of her popular book, Your Aesthetic Practice: What Your Patients Are Saying View Author Profile.

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