When you are working in an organization, completing your work on time is not the only thing that matters; how you do it and the way you organize yourself is just as important. The same holds true for medical receptionists as well. Greeting visitors and patients in person or over the phone in a polite manner, taking appointments, writing reports, collecting patient information, etc. are just some of the tasks of a medical receptionist.
Therefore, it’s absolutely necessary for them to remain organized and efficient in their workplace. Stop being in a state of haphazardness, confusion, and disorganization and follow these 3 desk organization tips to improve your productivity immediately.
1. Declutter Your Surroundings
Many homes have unnecessary things piling away in rooms, cupboards, and closets which are not needed. To clear it up, you often sell them or throw them away if they are utterly useless to anybody. In the same way, you should take an initiative and clear up that mess on your work desk.
Decluttering helps to enhance productivity as it makes you more organized. Take three boxes and label them separately as “To-do”, “Keep”, and “Remove”. Now you know what to do. For example, if you have an old Japanese take-out menu from the sushi bar that closed down a while ago, put it in the “Remove” box. On the other hand, the forms filled out by new patients can be placed in the “To-do” box.
Furthermore, get rid of any useless junk on your desk like globes, photo albums, toy soldiers, miniature car models, fancy paperweights, pictures of Dr. House or Meredith Grey. This will not only make you look ridiculous in a professional environment, but also reduce your productivity. On the other hand though, don’t throw away important items like scissors, normal paperweights, staplers, etc.
2. Learn to Multitask
Multitasking is the ability to do two or more tasks at the same time. But just like mountain climbing, everyone cannot learn to do it. However, it doesn’t mean you cannot give it a try. In fact, you can learn to multitask if you remove certain distractions from your schedule. For example, resist the urge to read that text message or email you just received and focus on the task at hand. These activities are quite time-consuming as some might not like to think so.
When you are working in a fast-paced environment such as a clinic or hospital, it’s better to switch off your phone’s notifications and make a plan ahead of the day. Doing so will enable you to multitask and increase your productivity.
3. Utilize Technology Effectively
Everyone can operate a computer or a mobile phone these days, but few know how to use them effectively. First of all, receptionists need to get an ergonomic chair to avoid back injuries, strains, and sprains. Secondly, they need to use an ergonomic mouse and keyboard. Lastly, utilize the organization tools on your computer and mobile phone which combine to-do lists, calendars, and address books.
Such applications will make your life and job easier as a medical receptionist by sending you reminders and notifications crucial events such as deadlines and emergencies.