Neil H. Baum, MD, presented “Patients Come Second” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in May 2022.
How to cite: Baum, Neil H. “Patients Come Second.” May 2022. Accessed Jul 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/patients-come-second/
Patients Come Second – Summary
Grand Rounds in Urology Contributing Editor Neil H. Baum, MD, Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School, argues that the best way to make a medical practice more successful is to focus on improving the experience of the employees, putting their needs ahead of patients and finances. He explains that while the “knee-jerk reaction” to the erosion of a practice’s bottom line is to cut staff, equipment, resources, and investments, putting employees first actually leads to greater financial success, since happier employees will take better care of patients. In turn, these satisfied patients will leave positive reviews, driving new patients to the practice and increasing productivity and profitability. Dr. Baum gives several suggestions on how to put employees first, recommending that practice owners start by measuring employee engagement and employee satisfaction with surveys. He concludes by saying that practice owners should “forget employee of the month” and instead try to praise and compliment their employees every day.
For more commentary on practice management from Dr. Baum, visit his Improving Your Urology Practice page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil H. Baum, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also a retired urologic surgeon. Additionally, Dr. Baum serves as the Medical Advisor to Vanguard Communications Group. Dr. Baum is the author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice - Ethically, Effectively, and Economically, which is in its 4th edition, has sold over 175,000 copies, and has been translated into Spanish. He also wrote The Complete Business Guide to a Successful Medical Practice, which was published in 2015. Dr. Baum was the columnist for American Medical News for more than 25 years. Dr. Baum also wrote the popular column, “The Bottom Line,” for Urology Times for more than 20 years. He is a requested speaker each year to the Practice Management Seminar for the American Urological Association (AUA), where he discusses techniques for making urology practices more efficient and more productive. He has written more than 9 books on practice management and over 250 peer-reviewed articles on various urologic topics. Dr. Baum is also the medical advisor to Vanguard Communications Group.
