The Successful Physician: A Productivity Handbook for Practitioners

by Marshall Zaslove

Overview

The Successful Physician: A Productivity Handbook for Practitioners will enable you to streamline, modernize, and improve your practice -- using practical, proven, common-sense methods any physician can apply. Filled with easy-to-follow, easy-to-implement suggestions, this book is written for the practicing physician by a practicing physician. Three major sections show you how to improve your use of the three major tools -- your time, knowledge, and relationship management. By investing a small amount of time and effort into upgrading the use of any one of the tools, you'll free up additional resources to re-invest in further efficiency and productivity-- resulting in greater personal satisfaction and less risk, hassle, and frustration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763713553
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	12/29/2003
Edition description:	1E
Pages:	307
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Marshall Zaslove, M.D. is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Zaslove lives and practices in Napa, California. In addition to formal training at UCLA School of Medicine and at the Neuropsychiatric Institute, he studied homeopathy and alternative medicine in England. He has been applying relaxation and meditation techniques in his hospital and clinic practices for the past ten years. Dr. Zaslove served twice as chief of staff at California's largest mental hospital, and has several published articles. He conducts seminars on performance enhancement, occupational stress prevention, and meditation.

Table of Contents

Contents:PART I: How Can Physicians Be More Productive? * How This Book Will Help You * What Is Physician Productivity? * PART II: Time Management for Physicians * Two Crucial First Steps * How to Eliminate Time-Wasting Work Habits * How to Cut Paperwork, Phone Calls, and Procrastination * How to Rearrange Your Clinical Work for Higher Efficiency * PART III: Knowledge Management for Physicians * Take Control of Your Clinical Knowledge Base * How to Get Rid of Your Journal Pile * "See One, Do One, Screw One" -- How to Learn Faster * Do You Need a Computer to Keep Up? * Beyond Knowledge: Clinical Wisdom and Intuition * PART IV: Relationship Management for Physicians: The Hidden Secret of Physician Productivity * For Patients, Trust Is the Key * Your Co-workers Can Do More of Your Work * From Scream Team to Dream Team * Your Colleagues: A Matter of Respect * Serve Your Self * Afterword: "Have Two Horses"

What People are Saying About This

Paul Lagasse Jr.

Equivalent to the One Minute Manager books for executives. I liked the way the entire book was interspersed with actual anecdotes--it made it easy and fun to read, and drove home pertinent points. Each of the tips can and should be used by physicians in any specialty. -- (Paul Lagasse, Jr., Sc.D., Baystate Health Systems, Massachusetts)

Robert Larsen

This is an excellent handbook for the contemporary physician.... I recommend it for any physician practicing today, not just those in managed care. I certainly will pass a copy on to my daughter and son-in-law who are young physicians. -- (Robert Larsen, MD, CEO of MD Execs)

Sheila Rogers

Definitely the best guide to modern medical practice. If you're a doctor, buy this book. If you're a patient, buy it for your doctor! -- (Sheila Rogers, MS, healthcare consumerist, Florida)

Kevin Courtney

For physicians whose spirits are sagging from too much work and too little appreciation... a $29 solution. -- (Kevin Courtney, Pulitzer award-winning journalist, California)

David Klubert

Practical advice that makes sense...we're purchasing it for our physicians. -- (David Klubert, MD, Senior Vice President, MedPartners-Northwest)

Larry Doblin

So many practical suggestions...this book is helping me enjoy private practice again! -- (Larry Dobkin, MD, internist, Pennsylvania)

Mark Frisse

An essential tool for medical practice and career growth....The people who need this book will be too busy to order it. Spouses and friends of heroic but overworked health care professionals are urged to consider this a gift that will yield both great peace and 'return on investment. -- (Mark Frisse, MD, MS, MBA, Director, Bernard Becker Medical Library, Washington University, St. Louis)

Reid Gervais

Does for doctors what Covey and Blanchard did for executives and managers. -- (Reid Gervais, Director, Vision Dynamics, British Columbia)

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

This very readable handbook can be used by the individual physician to improve productivity and enjoyment of clinical practice. Key productivity determinants are explored through a thorough discussion of time, knowledge, and relationship management. The author describes ways to make one's professional life easier. The underlying message is that a more productive, enjoyable practice can be attained through methods that are not complex, can be utilized by all physicians, and actually lessen the total work load. Most comments are directed toward physicians who have been practicing for a number of years. With the increased complexity of modern medicine made worse through personal inefficiencies, there is an expressed desire to improve physician satisfaction by teaching new management tools. However, many of the author's teachings, particularly suggestions regarding knowledge and relationship management, are just as applicable to younger physicians. The author, a practicing psychiatrist, utilizes his own extensive clinical experience as well as useful information he has obtained through numerous interviews and seminars conducted over the years. He is a very credible observer of physician behavior. Individual productivity is emphasized throughout. Time management techniques, efficient ways of obtaining and maintaining medical knowledge, and the difficult area of personal relationships are addressed through the use of easily understood text, anecdotal examples, quotations, and exercises. There are very helpful summary lists at the end of each of the three major sections. This book is a worthwhile addition to the literature on physician productivity. The author's direct style centers oneasily identifiable aspects of clinical practice. This makes his book highly usable for the busy physician. The author succeeds in his attempt to address self-management issues in a direct, conversational way that is more relevant to physicians than some other academic treatises available today. Physicians will find this book fun and rewarding to read.

J. Michael Condit

Speaks to physicians in many settings..Simple, practical, and achievable solutions..I will use several..It rise[s] above the "quick-fix" aura of many self-help books.

Journal of the American Medical Association

Crystal clear, no jargon; a thorough treatment of the problem of productivity in medical practice....Very valuable!

William Flynn

Surprisingly readable... anecdotes, cartoons, and an excellent text design help bring the topic to life.

Latitude Newsletter

[Dr. Zaslove's] writing is engaging, his message clear, and his advice indispensable. Do yourself and your patients a favor: read this book!

Leonard Zunin

Required reading for any physician who feels that too many extraneous pressures are interfering with his or her primary mission of providing quality care to patients. If your doctor seems to be drowning in paper and red tape give him this book for Christmas!

International Health News

There are plenty of self-help books, but few specifically for doctors. Dr. Zaslove steps happily through all the personal management stuff you ever wanted to know. Well-organized, so you can read it quickly.

British Medical Journal

Presents practical suggestions for reducing the hassles, pressures, worries, inefficiencies, and risks in physicians' professional lives. Shows how to take control of the schedule, cut paperwork and procrastination, use MEDLINE (the one killer app all doctor's need), and work effectively with colleagues. Includes many quotations and exercises designed to focus the reader's attention on the ideas being covered. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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