I know how crazy working the front office can get. I worked in the front office on the front lines and in the later years as an administrator for over 20 years. These are a few secrets I learned out of survival mode. Whether you are working alone or have multiple front office personnel, if you are experiencing job burn out, or what I call being in a state of overwhelm, you need a plan. An action plan to be specific.

My action plan is about getting focused and staying focused. Create a time management schedule for your day. Keep in mind this should be flexible but set an intention to stick closely to it.

1. 7:00 am Retrieve messages, return phone calls fill holes in the schedule.
2. 7:30 Pull charts for the next day. Review medical histories and make sure patients have their premed.
3. 8:05 Confirm appointments for the next day starting with the earliest appointments. Make sure all financial arrangements are completed for the next day.
4. 8:45 Fill schedule from your active call list if you have holes in your schedule.

If you would like my complete Time Management Schedule for the Front Office just drop me an email with Time Management in the subject box. Or call me at 1-888-443-2203. Leave me your name, address and if you would like a call back state that as well.

If you would be interested in a free teleconference call regarding getting along with difficult co-workers and patients please sign up on my web site. Attendance is limited to 10 guests so we can have open coaching.

Time management schedules should free up some time during the day. What you do with this time is critical to living a purposeful work life. Use this extra time to socialize with your patients. Ask them how their family is or how long have they been in the area. Take a genuine interest in getting to know your patients.

The return on that investment will be they will feel more at ease with your office and trust what you and the doctor have to say. To be a messenger of good will or, the hostess with the mostest, will always go a long way in building long lasting relationships in the office. This creates less stress for the patient resulting in less stress for you.

I can not remember a time in my life when I did not enjoy creating marvelous mouth watering dishes. I have met more doctors and staff who share a culinary passion. So, in this issue I am going to share a recipe I got from the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in October 2006.

We ate at the Eagle Tavern. Circa 1800's and the inside was furnished and decorated with an old world feel. The employees dressed in period outfits which brought an excitement to the food I had not anticipated. The flavor combinations may seem odd but trust me, they blend very well and it will be a dish you will make again and again. The support food with the meal was cornbread and a cranberry & orange relish. I will share that recipe with you next month.

Herb Cream Sauce: onions, minced 1/4cp garlic, minced 2 cloves Sherry 1 1/2 cps Heavy Cream 4 cps Tarragon 4 sprigs Thyme 4 sprigs Parsley 1/4 cp Basil 1/4 cp Butter 1/2 # Flour for roux

Saute onions and garlic over medium heat, do not brown. Add Sherry and reduce by 3/4 add cream and simmer 10 minutes. Add roux to thicken simmer 10-15 minutes then add herbs.

Add pumpkin, steamed and cubed and add cooked sausage. Serve over egg parpadella pasta or any wide past noodle. I use whole wheat pasta and it tastes fine.