As my colleagues can attest, the medical review process has numerous steps, and any one mistake, no matter how small, can have a big effect. However, during my time as general manager at MLS Group, we’ve been successful in reducing errors and improving deadline times—and I’d like to share with you the various factors that accomplished this.

Improved Workflows for Improved Turnaround Times

When I first began at MLS, on-time percentage for peer reviews was 72 percent. Fast forward to three years later, and 97 percent of reviews meet their deadlines. Turnaround times in the industry vary, of course. Reviews can be due in 24 hours or less, 3 days or 28 days, depending on the circumstances. These tight deadlines and the extensive work that goes into each review, are why I set out to establish a unique workflow within each department.

This improvement was achieved by organization and communication between all the department heads. I evaluated the current process and consulted with the QA and IT teams on how reviews can be completed more efficiently. It was also important to look at how the physicians could get their reviews in quicker. This was improved by moving the complete review process into a digital format and creating automated reviews. I continue to strategize solutions for shortening turnaround times to exceed the industry standards and lead this company to success.

My goal is to bring quality service with fast turnaround times to keep our clients happy, but ultimately, an improved process can only do so much. This brings us to the second factor that contributes to my success.

Strive for Good Leadership

At the senior management level, I have seen how good and bad leadership can affect an entire company. Studies show that 79 percent of employees who quit say a lack of appreciation was their reason for leaving. This goes to prove the saying: “People don’t leave companies. They leave bosses.”

It’s important to trust your staff because you can’t do everything yourself. Ensuring good communication and organization across your team while utilizing every employee’s strengths will get the job done right. Transparency and trust gain your team’s support for your decisions and increase their longevity at the company.

My previous managers have instilled in me the qualities that lead to effective leadership. One of my mentors taught me to never say no to a difficult problem. From this, I learned great problem-solving and investigative skills that I continue to bestow upon my staff.

Another manager showed me how to look at the business as a whole. This included budgets, workflow, technology, and client success. She did everything she could for her clients, which kept them coming back. I implement this mindset with my team and clients every day.

No matter how great of a leader you are, you will always run into issues on your team. When I do face this difficulty, perseverance is key. Of course, the best managers can detect problems early on and be proactive with solutions. If conflicts should arise, sit down and discuss the issue with your team to discover the core problem and collaborate on a resolution.

“Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to.” - Henry Ford

I tell this to my team to show the importance of always working towards success. Failures will occur, but that doesn't mean you should stop working to be the best. This includes not just assessing your own skills, but also assessing where your company and industry is headed.

Know Where Your Industry is Going

In my many years in the healthcare industry, I have experienced the notable growth of independent review organizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Hospital Association, the U.S. healthcare industry spends $2.914 trillion in healthcare expenditures. With 784,626 healthcare companies and 16,792,074 employees, it’s an industry that is quickly growing to meet increasing healthcare demands. IROs have found success by solving the issue of overbooked physicians and reducing errors that are caused from this growing industry.

This sector of the healthcare industry is constantly going through changes, so it's critical to stay on top of news and trends. Keeping up on new regulations for Medicare and case appeals allows me to implement changes into our services and stay ahead of competitors. It’s also important to evaluate insurance company changes in order to know the procedures they believe are medically necessary.

The more healthcare evolves, the more medical reviews have to evolve. Independent review organizations must be efficient in their processes and passionate about providing unbiased reviews. The leaders in the organization must reinforce this with strong leadership and unparalleled determination. And luckily for me, it's easy to do so when you're passionate about your company and what it offers.

This article was originally published on Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-long-8bb69333/
Never Underestimate the Effects of Good Leadership in the Workplace