Setting the Stage for Continuous Improvement – Reflecting on the Past Year

As we wind down another year and get ready for Thanksgiving, it's the perfect time for a little reflection and planning. This has been a year of significant change in O&P, and it is important that we stop and take a look at the landscape. We need to understand where we have been and where we are going, both as a profession and a practice. And if your practice is to thrive going forward, you need to have a culture that is responsive and focused on continuous improvement if you want to have any influence over your destiny.  As you look back on the past year, think about what worked well and what didn't. This isn’t just about patting yourself on the back or dwelling on what went wrong. It’s about learning and growing. What lessons can we take from our successes and failures? It is important to understand why you got the results you got, regardless of whether it was good or bad. Was it a new policy, a change in process, a stroke of luck, or maybe just team dynamics? Understanding these reasons is key to making better plans. 

Start by gathering data. How did your team perform? Look at patient outcomes, staff satisfaction surveys, and any other metrics you've been tracking. Numbers tell a story, but they're not the whole story. Get feedback from your team. What do they think went well? What challenges did they face? Identify specific areas where you can make changes. Maybe it's streamlining patient intake procedures, increasing staff training, or improving communication between departments. Whatever it is, make it clear and actionable. 

Once you have a good list, have the team think about what would make things smoother, more effective, or less challenging.  Then talk about goals that will help you achieve what you just described. This is your chance to define what success looks like in your practice. Make the goals realistic, achievable, and measurable. These shouldn't just be top-down directives but a collaborative effort. Engage your team in setting these goals. When people are part of the goal-setting process, they're more invested in the outcomes. 

As you plan for the next year, remember to keep this cycle of reflection and goal setting going. Continuous improvement isn't a once-a-year activity; it's an ongoing process. Make it part of your organization's culture.