An organized office leads to more productivity and brings about a feeling of security and control that’s quite comforting for everyone connected to that space. Although it is important to organize your human resources (such as by using independent reviews), it is also important to organize your physical space. Now, if we consider the fact that psychotherapists also have to deal with a ton of administrative work (besides taking care of their patients) on top of everything else, it’s easy to understand why an organized space can be so comforting.
As a patient, it lets you know the person in charge of your treatment is in control of the situation and can handle the stress of their profession. As a staff member, an organized space helps you shed off hours of searching and digging through files and makes the work less hectic. And finally, as a psychotherapy specialist, an organization system is the force that drives your professional life and keeps you sane one day after another.
Now, given the importance of a well-organized workspace (especially in a sector like healthcare), here are a few tips to help you get your practice organized and ready for amazing deeds.
Adopt Modern Technologies
Due to the wide use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies, we now have a wide range of platforms that help automate various operations in the healthcare sector. Therefore, everything that has to do with patient data processing and management can be done using modern technologies.
As a result, there will be fewer data processing errors and the information will be available to anyone in charge. For instance, a mental health EHR solution can reduce the time spent tracking patient’s medical data and provides doctors easy access to them. In addition, as soon as a patient’s information is in the system, you can add all sorts of resources to their profile (like scans or regular checkups) which makes it easy to track progress in time.
The To-Do List
While it may sound like an over-used trope, the To-Do list is, in fact, quite efficient in keeping your activity organized. The secret is to make sure you only add doable tasks (within the established timeframe) and to avoid setting impossible goals. Otherwise, you’ll only create room for extra pressure and stress in your life (which tends to encourage procrastination).
The good news is that you can customize your To-Do list according to your heart’s content. For instance, some people like to make notes in a notebook while others simply use their phone’s calendar app. As long as you don’t use HIPPA prohibited information in your notes, you can select any type of To-Do list you like.
In addition, if you use an app, you may be able to set repeating sessions and alerts to keep you in the loop about upcoming pre-scheduled events. This can be extremely helpful, especially as things get more hectic.
Avoid Procrastination
As things get busy, it’s easy to let the small tasks for later (like organizing your notes or making those phone calls). However, this only creates room for chaos as when that “later” comes, you’ll learn there’s an entire pile of small things to do.
So, the best way to keep yourself and your practice organized is to avoid pushing things for later. As time goes on, this will become a habit and it will be easier to keep it up. Also, it’s a good idea to ask your personnel to do the same.
As a psychotherapist is important to keep in mind the fact that procrastination is a slippery slope that’s difficult to stop once it starts unfolding. Therefore, if you don’t stay on top of it, you’ll find yourself pushing things back to solve the things you pushed back for later. This is dangerous behavior in a job where accurate notes and organization are of crucial importance. Luckily, modern technology can help reduce the workload and keep you accountable. All you need is the right cloud-based system that can help you make notes, set reminders, create To-Do lists, and even work while on the go. However, since you are working with sensitive and confidential information, it takes a bit of research to find a reliable and secure software tool that can keep up with your crazy lifestyle.
Wrap Up
While it’s not easy to be and stay organized, it is a lifesaving habit for people who work in hectic environments (like healthcare). So, it’s a good idea to practice your organizational skills on a daily basis. Even more, it’s best to learn from others (check these hospital management tips) and improve your system to make it more efficient and productivity-oriented.
Lastly, not all people are fond (or capable) of staying organized all the time. But that’s where modern technologies (like list-makers, to-do lists, note-takers, and online calendars) have the most impact. Given the huge amount of information we have to process on a daily basis, it’s only natural to need assistants in everything you do. Luckily, we now can create our own virtual assistants, who are evolved enough to make basic decisions based on previous behaviors. And, as they continue to evolve, our lives can continue to improve and get more focused on what matters.
