Pandemics, ice storms, and power outages do not stop pregnancies or those who care for them. Pregnant people need care, and their babies are still coming out. Caring for our patients is goal number one, but we can not do it if Covid-19 or a winter storm keeps the office doors closed. 

The Texas storm’s first strike hit the Dallas/Fort Worth region on Thursday, February 11. Our practice made the fast-acting decision to close for inclement weather. We always strive to stay open and operational to the best of our abilities. Still, we closed because the icy roads presented a hazard for our staff and patients.

After Thursday, the practice had to come together and make some tough decisions. The weather reports were getting worse. From everything we read, the following week was going to be an environmental catastrophe. We knew it would be freezing cold with lots of snow, but we had no idea the Texas electric grid would collapse, leaving millions without power or water.

The operations team took preemptive action behind the scenes in a whirlwind of meetings, phone calls, and text messages. We needed a plan to provide safe, effective patient care without putting our staff or patients in danger. The Operations and Clinical teams worked together to ensure the plan was agile and fool-proof.

The first priority was planning for Monday’s snowstorm. We followed our step-by-step operations and communications weather-related playbook. The expected snow, ice, and brutal temperature drops arrived on schedule. What followed was state-wide power outages.

Our plan was to convert most of our visits to Telemedicine. As the morning arrived, many of our providers had no power or Wifi access. Our communications center suffered the same challenges. Using SMS technology, we were able to communicate the rapidly changing plans to our patients. Despite the challenges, we were able to make 7246 rescheduling phone calls and messages. 

Two of our physicians moved into a hotel after losing power. At 3:00 am, the hotel lost power and electricity as well. Most of our providers lost water and quickly learned how to flush toilets with snow.

Chief Operations Office Johan Hultman stated, “We had a plan, and we worked the plan. As things progressively got worse, we reworked the plan. We dealt ourselves as many cards to play as we could, and that gave us the ability to maintain control.”

By Wednesday, the weather had somewhat improved. We opened the office late and extended hours to allow patients and staff to drive during daylight. Staff members without power and water came early to shower and brush their teeth. The doctors who could safely make it to our offices saw 752 patients. 

The entire team worked together to care for each other. Two physicians with pick-up trucks ran a shuttle service to chauffeur office staff. Other team members took bottles of water to their coworkers. 

We did not have enough available medical assistants to staff an entire team. Our providers had to improvise. I moved into the nursing workstation to check vital signs, perform the urinalysis, and enter all data into the electronic record system. 

Health technology helped us manage the crisis. 

While sometimes challenging, the rise of technology in healthcare helped our practice manage through the challenges. Expanded Telemedicine services allowed us to continue to see patients when they could not safely come into the office. 

Some providers called patients from their homes or hotel rooms as they struggled with the same power and water issues as the rest of the community. Despite the challenges, we completed 352 virtual visits.

Crisis communication is critical. 

During a crisis, the mission is simple: organize, prioritize, plan, and execute. Unexpected challenged can bring down companies and paralyze leaders. Situational threats may leave teammates feeling overwhelmed.

The Operations Team and Clinical Team met virtually at 6 am and ended their days closer to midnight as they finalized provider, staff, and patient communications and contingency care plans. We needed to know which staff members had power, water, and safe transportation. 

Multiple communications went out throughout each day to keep all team members up to date with the rapidly changing situation. Everyone knew what to do and where they could best help. 

Here comes the sun

By Saturday, the temperatures rose, and the sun came shining through. Most of our staff had power. Many still lacked water. We had accomplished the most important goal — we provided safe and effective care for our patients under challenging circumstances.  

As we approach the one-year mark of the pandemic onset, I reflect on the past year. There is no other way to say it; it has been a difficult year to be a healthcare provider. 

Despite Covid-19 and Texas Winter Storms, it feels really good knowing that careful, diligent planning and the ability to change directions and innovate is what has kept our team operational.

We are getting through it together. 

The post Practicing Medicine During a Historic Winter Storm in Texas appeared first on Medika Life.

What is motivating you to make this change?

Take a close look at and put deep thought into where your desire to make a career change is coming from. Are you unhappy in your position? Do you feel stagnant in your role? Are you looking for a challenge? Does it seem that there are no further opportunities for career advancement in your workplace? Do you yearn for a change in responsibilities, environment, industry, or area of focus?

What could be the benefits of this change?

Consider the possible financial gain that could come from a change. Could you receive a potential increase in income or benefits? What about workplace dynamics? Are you in a toxic environment and would changing companies have a positive effect on your mood, mental health, and overall coping, while recognizing there is no guarantee that things will go perfectly in a different setting? What possible opportunities for professional development, growth, and learning could a new position or career bring?

Carefully think about all of the positives that could come from taking this leap.

For what reasons would you stay in your job?

There is also the flip side about all of the reasons why you may want to stay in your job for now. This doesn’t necessarily mean forever – it could just be for some time longer until you feel more ready to make a shift.

For example, are there familial or parental reasons why you may need to stay in your role for now (e.g. job security, pension/benefits, proximity to your child’s school or your elderly parent who you are caring for, dealing with a separation or divorce, or managing your health issues or the health issues of your family)?

Are there logistical or practical reasons for remaining in your job? Some ideas may include access to transportation, recently moving into the area near your job, being close to retirement, and having concerns about making a change at this time from a financial and resource perspective).

Could there be personal reasons, such as the close bonds you have developed with your colleagues that make it hard to imagine leaving at this time, or your immense job satisfaction or pride and joy in the work that you do every day?

Weighing the benefits of making a change versus the reasons for remaining in your current job will be an important process for helping you figure out your next steps.

Where would you like to be in 5 or 10 years?

This is a common question that everyone probably hears often although it is an important one in this predicament of making career choices.

Sometimes we get stuck dealing with the present and we forget to think about how the decisions we make now can affect us in the short term and long term future. Try to expand beyond the current time and consider how the career changes you make – or don’t make – could impact your life down the road.

For example, do you want to go back to school to learn about a new subject area or explore more in-depth training or professional development in your field to increase your chances of finding a new job in the future? Do you envision being in a different industry or running your own business? What would you like your daily work life to look like? What are you passionate about and what could you see yourself doing and not getting tired of quickly?

If you are close to retirement, are you content with continuing your current role or would you like to try something different before you retire? If you are seeking change, could that new role possibly become a part-time job or a volunteer position post-retirement?

The choices you make will of course depend on your life stage, personal and professional goals, and interests and desire for change. Do what you think is best for your present and future self.

What will help you make a career decision?

What practices do you engage in that helps with reflection? Is it meditation, journaling, taking some quiet time to reflect in silence, talking out your thoughts and feelings with loved ones? Whatever it takes to help you make a decision, do that and see where it leads you.

If you do decide to make a career move or a job change, what’s your first step? Second step? Make a plan.

Before you make any changes, you need an action plan. A solid action plan will outline some of the initial steps you need to make now, a week from now, a month from now, and so on. Planning out these steps will help make your career or job transition as successful as it can be.

Consider such action plan ideas as: do you want to devote some time to updating your resume or getting someone you trust to review it and share constructive feedback? Is there a course you’ve been meaning to register for and are now committed to taking? Would it help to sign up for job alerts in your field or industry – or new fields or industries you are interested in breaking into – so that you get a sense of what is out there and what the expectations and requirements are? What skills would you like to brush up on or develop to get you that much closer to your goal?

How will you know that you are making progress in your career development? What will you observe in terms of certificates attained, interview requests, and job offers? How will you know that the job or career change is working well for you? How will you feel, what will you think, and what will you notice around you?

Your career path is fluid and ever-changing. It’s ok to stay where you are if you don’t want to make a change. Or, you can take that leap if you feel ready to jump in and if that’s what you want.

Reflect regularly, assess where you are at, weigh all the factors so you are making an informed decision, choose what’s best for you, and re-evaluate over time as you continue your journey down your career path.

The post Thinking About Making a Career Move or Job Change? appeared first on Medika Life.

Figure out your business name and register your business

Choose a name that reflects your future vision, values, growth prospects, and goals for your business. Some professionals use their own name as one viewpoint is that nothing is better than using your own name as your brand! You are unique and your name reflects that!

Others feel they would like to use a more generic business name that may be useful should they choose to hire staff in the future or perhaps sell their business down the road. They want to make the process as open and flexible as possible, which may be easier with a broader business name.

Whatever business name you decide on, you will need to register your chosen business name as one of your first key steps.

Consider a sole proprietorship vs. incorporation

You may wish to obtain a legal consultation to figure out the benefits and risks surrounding a sole proprietorship or incorporation so you can figure out which option works best for your practice over the short and long term, including the possible impact of choosing to hire staff to work for you or if you expand your practice in the future.

Focus your niche or area of specialty

Consider whether you would like to specialize in working with a certain age group, culture, religion, language, ethnicity, gender/orientation, etc. In addition, reflect on the range of issues you are most experienced and comfortable with focusing on in your private practice. You may also consider your previous work experience and expertise in various areas throughout your career. All of these factors may help you define your niche.

You may also want to decide whether you would like to offer in-person services and/or online or virtual counselling. Online or virtual counselling may be useful given the current worldwide coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual services may also be relevant if you are serving populations where transport may be challenging due to your clients living in remote locations, having limited options regarding accessible transit in their regions if they are impacted by a physical disability, having limited time due to caregiving and work responsibilities, or other factors.

Advertise

Getting your name out there is very important, especially when you are beginning your private practice! Explore as many avenues as you can think of.

Creating a company website, setting up a google ad, creating one or more social media accounts, developing a business LinkedIn profile, distributing business cards, adding yourself to Social Work directories, and networking with colleagues are some ideas to consider. Continue to find ways to promote yourself in your local community and province or region.

Highlight your best attributes

Sometimes it’s hard to speak up about our own successes, achievements, and skills as it can feel awkward or strange or makes us uncomfortable.

However, sharing your top skills is a valuable way to set yourself apart and clarifies what makes you, you. Highlight your training, experience, education, certifications, and specialties. This can help clients figure out why they are choosing you!

Finances

Creating a business bank account is important to separate your personal and business expenses and income. It is also helpful to develop a budget so you have a sense of what your initial expenses are for creating your private practice, in addition to the ongoing costs you will have monthly and annually in order to maintain your business.

If you have an accountant, you can consult with them regarding specific financial and tax-related questions. You may want to consider hiring an accountant if you don’t already have one in case that helps ease your worries around taxes or just as a way of ensuring you are on the right track.

Consultation

Are there others you are aware of in your professional network who have started a private practice themselves? It may be worth consulting with them to see what has worked and not worked well for them in their own process of developing their private practice. Learn from others so you can avoid similar pitfalls or challenges if possible.

Perhaps it may help to contact the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and/or Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) to see if you can consult with their staff regarding anything else you may need to consider from their viewpoints.

You may also want to review the Perspective Newsletters sent out by the OCSWSSW and other resources they have on their website as a helpful resource.

A legal consultation may be helpful as well in regards to setting up your private practice.

Documentation

Part of creating your practice is developing your own informed consent for services form, service policies (including no-show and late cancellation fee policies), intake form, questionnaires, consent forms, notetaking forms, and any other documentation templates you feel could be helpful for your practice.

You will want to decide if you will use paper documentation and keep a locked filing cabinet or whether you would like to use a secure, encrypted, PHIPA and PIPEDA compliant electronic platform to store your records.

Plan ahead

Review your short term and long term goals and task timelines. Map out the steps of what you think you need to accomplish as the first step, second step, and so on. Consider how quickly you want to set up your practice- whether you think it is feasible to set up in one month, three months, six months, one year, or some other timeframe. Work backwards and check off tasks as you accomplish them – this will help you stay motivated toward your goal!

Choose a workspace and check your insurance coverage

Are you going to rent an office? Or are you going to work from your own home? Figuring out where you will work and whether you are adequately insured in terms of your workspace is important. Check with your Social Work insurance provider to obtain details about your policy and determine whether you need to make changes or increase your coverage.

Workload and time management

If you are working in the public sector while also hoping to branch out into the private sector, or if you have a family at home and are trying to figure out how you can manage juggling all of these balls in the air at once, it can be worthwhile to reflect on how you will balance your numerous responsibilities.

Create a schedule based on what works for you and your various personal and professional roles. Think about how you will address all of your duties in a given week. This will help you decide on how many days and hours per week you can realistically devote to your private practice.

Just start!

Everyone has to start somewhere! Figure out what it takes to get set up, do what you have to do to get there, and monitor and tweak things as you go on. It won’t be perfect or 100% ready when you begin- nothing ever truly is. The key message is that you will hopefully see an increase over time in the number of clients that connect with you as you continue to evolve and flourish. It is exciting to see where this journey will take you!

The post Key Tips for Starting a New Social Work Private Practice appeared first on Medika Life.