Dan Groth

ESTABLISHING EXPECTATIONS

Success starts with careful preparation long before you arrive. If you work through an agency, your staffing consultant has given you a written job description and details of your travel arrangements. Keep in mind, however, that the job description is only as good as the information received by your consultant, and representatives of contract facilities may put it in the most favorable terms.

Ask them to describe a typical workday: the hours and patient load, the equipment and dictation systems available, the kinds of cases you are likely to encounter, anything special about procedures normally performed, and a description of challenges you are likely to have (such as a backlog of cases from the previous weekend). Be sure and take notes during your call.

Habit #2: Stop right there. If you hear anything that is substantially different than your job description or you are being asked to perform duties outside the scope of your practice, discuss the matter with your recruiter before going any further. You need to clarify the contract facility's expectations, your ability to fill those expectations, and the staffing agency's expectations for both of you.

GET TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Prior to arriving at your contract facility, make sure you have a list of employee names and positions, including those of staff physicians, and highlight primary contacts. It is also useful to have a record of referring physicians who normally interact with the person you are replacing. Note any individuals who may require "special attention." Get to know these names beforehand. You do not have to memorize them, but if there are some difficult-to-pronounce names, it is always better to get some guidance during orientation so you do not fall over your tongue.

Habit #3: Confirm your travel arrangements personally. About half of all opportunity "failures" are due to problems with housing, transportation, and shift hours. It only takes a few minutes to call the hotel, rental car company, or facility to confirm the given arrangements, particularly if you have special requests such as a non-smoking room or a mini-refrigerator. If you uncover discrepancies, do not hesitate to contact your travel coordinator.

Habit #4: Establish good relationships with staff and patients as quickly as possible. Most hospitals or practices will have a website or provide printed information about themselves. It is always helpful to have a visual image of the building or facility where you will report, as well as some pictures of the staff. If the website does not give a brief biography of your new colleagues, try Googling the names and see what information you find. Remember, addressing people by name and showing a genuine interest in their experience, skills, and personalities are some of the best ways to engage the practice.

ALL ABOUT ORIENTATION

Habit #5: Arrive early on your first day. No one should expect you to immediately "step into the shoes" of an absent practitioner. To ensure this is the case, make the contract facility or practice aware of your need for a tour, introductions to the staff, review of standard protocols and scheduling preferences, training on dictation equipment, a review of prescribing protocols and nearby pharmacies, and some discussion about nearby restaurants and entertainment. Monday morning is a particularly difficult time for some facilities to set this up, so be sure to arrive before it gets busy.