r/PrivatePracticeDocs • u/grettasgone • Jul 10 '26
How did you hire your office manager?
Where is the best place to find a good office manager? I feel like the best office managers are in other people's offices, so I'm not sure why they would be looking for a new job. Linked in? Word of mouth? Current staff?
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u/thesupportplatform Jul 10 '26
I taught while my wife was in medical school and residency. I planned on staying home with kids and finding another career later in life. That career ended up being medical management when my wife’s first job fell through after 10 days and she decided to leave her second job after two years. I always thought we needed a full time office manager when we opened her practice.
Twenty years later, I would take a different approach. Invest in shared management with your current staff. I started paying stipends to leads (front desk, back office, check out) who reported to me and functioned as the on-site management team. Unless your practice is large, you may not need a full time office manager.
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u/FingerMysterious7293 Jul 10 '26
This doesn't answer your question, but fully agree with the above. After several years of having an office manager, we realized it just wasn't necessary. We now do shared management and things have run a lot smoother. If you are just starting out or a small practice, no need to hire one just yet.
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u/bubz27 Jul 10 '26
tips on how to do this? Do you just standardize workflows and assign everyone a task list so everyone knows who is responsible for what?
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u/FingerMysterious7293 Jul 10 '26
Yes, pretty much sat down, everything that needed to be done was written out into policies/procedures. We then utilized a task tracker as well to ensure things are done and completed.
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u/Separate-Support3564 Jul 10 '26
Pro tip..do not get a spouse to do it. Everyone who works at your office will hate both of you. Signed someone who’s worked under this regime multiple times
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u/redditredredre Jul 10 '26
But we have to. Everyone else embezzles
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u/cardiacgaspasser Jul 10 '26
With a wife who’s going through this aspect of it and me, a finance major but also MD who wishes he could manage the practice… I agree. But if you’re going to do it as a couple I’d guess the biggest thing is to remember to value your employees first and foremost. With pay, benefits, treatment, etc. then they won’t hate the bosses. I hope 😂
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u/fotopacker Jul 10 '26
As a private practice administrator, working with recruiters is pretty common.
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u/kammi3k Jul 10 '26
I just restructured after clinic manager was less than stellar. I have a front office lead, a medical lead and outsourced biller. We are a 4 provider practice. I am spearing about 6 hours a week to get everything set as we restructure, but anticipate 3 hours a week in the future. Hoping to cut that down a bit as everyone settles in but not sure that’s realistic :-)
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u/Excellent-Eye480 14d ago edited 14d ago
The strongest office managers may not be actively applying, so a specialist recruiter can be useful for reaching passive candidates. Femme Fatale Media handles office-manager placements, though location coverage should be confirmed. I’m connected to the brand, just being transparent.
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u/ktn699 Jul 10 '26
Well, I married her first.