You made partner, how do you act now?

By Rob Melendez, MD
Editor-in-Chief, Pearls in Ophthalmology

You made partner, how do you act now? No differently. Selection as a partner (shareholder) suggests that you have the skills that are commensurate with the practice. It is reported that physicians leave their first job for three reasons: 1) poor compensation, 2) poor relations, and 3) not fitting in with the community. Now that you are partner, strive to build upon the reasons why you were chosen.

What if you recently finished your residency and fellowship and starting your first job? It is normal to begin with some trepidation, but how do you act? Act as if you are a partner. I will highlight a few areas to help you shine to become a great partner.

Caring

This goes without saying. Most likely, you have these qualities already otherwise you would not have been chosen to be a partner. Although the term “caring” sounds sappy, this is the main area that will define your success as a physician. Like in the business world, customers who are treated very well, will be repeat customers. Patients are most concerned about how much we care. Patients will value your concern from simply listening to them in the exam room to a phone call the evening of their surgery. Think back when we interviewed for medical school and you heard the cliché, “I just want to help people.” This phrase stems from our basic concern for others. If you lost it, then refocus now to think of others more. If you focus on helping others: patients, staff, and business partners, you will build a strong practice. This entails caring for all of the patients in the practice instead of simply your patients. When you discuss patients, say, I saw one of our patients last week that you performed surgery on, rather than, I saw your patient last week. You should have a team-player approach. Focus on the needs of others first. This includes thinking beyond yourself and getting to know your associates better (Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc). Show genuine concern for their family’s well-being. Your staff will appreciate your concern too when you remember their child was sick or you remembered their birthday. As a partner, you are building relationships with the patients, staff and fellow partners.

Good Clinician

After board certification, continue to stay up to date with all areas of ophthalmology. Read often and subscribe to a variety of journals. Attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting and your specialty meetings each year. Volunteer to speak at a grand rounds presentation at your local hospital. This will help build your portion of the practice and bring notoriety to the practice at large. When a patient brings in a newspaper article, take time in front of them to review it. Even if you are running behind in your schedule, still look at it and tell them you will review it later. Send an email to them or make a phone call with your comments. You should be aware of nearly everything in the clinic. Treat the clinic as if you own it. For instance, pick up trash and fix the chairs in the waiting room and pull out the vacuum from time to time. The staff will make a note of it and will identify the importance of it to you.

Good Surgeon

Strive to improve your surgical skills by analyzing your surgical videos weekly. Ask senior partners to observe you and provide pearls that will help in those difficult cases and even in the straight forward ones. For instance, one of my senior partners, alerted me to identifying a loose capsular bag during cataract surgery. He taught me that if the capsule is difficult to puncture and has a lot of folds during the capsulorrhexis, this is suggestive of a loose bag and requires modification of the phacoemulsification settings. Additionally, another partner added a pearl of positioning the intraocular lens. He recommended the edge of the IOL should have better coverage by the edge of the iris inferiorly because the upper lid can cover the edge of the IOL superiorly in well dilated pupils.

Identify your Niche

Whether you are the only glaucoma specialist or retina specialist, strive to be one of the ultimate resources to your partners. Read often to provide the most recent information to your partners and patients. Strive to become one of the leaders and most knowledgeable in your specialty whether locally or nationally.

Understanding your role in the practice can be challenging if you are one of several other specialists. Make your intentions and goals known to the senior partners. This will provide a dialogue to discuss the needs of the practice and to determine how you can complement and fulfill those needs. Remain committed to improving your surgical skills and learn new techniques.

You have been offered partnership because you displayed great qualities that were already present in the practice. Your attitude should be no differently now that you have made partner. It is time to build on those strengths and improve upon any weaknesses to bring added value to the practice. Understand your role in the practice and began to develop this position. Ask senior partners for their advice. Strive to promote others and to build their portions of the practice by appropriate referrals. Always show respect to all of the partners and speak evil of none of them.

Business Side

As a new partner, you will have the opportunity to reap financial benefits as well as expose yourself to risks. Take time to understand the financials (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statements). Increase your efficiency in the clinic and in the operating room without compromising quality. Strive to improve others in your practice. Encourage your employees to attend classes that will help the practice, such as coding, effective communication courses, and other classes.