A Guest in Their House: Working with New Support Staff
When you’re a locum, you don't have the luxury of growing with your staff over several years. Everyone around you, including your MAs, will be new faces. There might be some initial awkwardness, and that’s okay.
Here’s what I do to get off to a good start:
1. The Early Arrival and Intro
Get to the clinic 15 minutes early on your first day to get situated and chat with your team. I tell my MAs straight up that I’m there to go with the flow and that I truly appreciate their help. We are guests in their space. Having amazing support staff on a temporary assignment can make or break your day.
Learn their names quickly. If you're bad with names, jot them down on a sticky note at your desk. I also make sure to ask: "Will I be with you all week, or do they rotate staff daily?" If they rotate, get ready to repeat this process with the new team members each time.
2. Clarify the Workflow
Don't wait for the first patient to be roomed to figure out the system. Ask these questions immediately:
Once a patient is roomed, will you come to me directly or is there a room flag or notification system I should rely on?
Can you show me the room layouts and where the supplies are?
When there’s a biopsy, who handles the numbing?
What’s the process for labs and prescriptions? Do you enter the orders for me to sign, or am I navigating that solo?
3. Planning for Continuity of Care
This depends on the length of your assignment. Make sure your MAs know exactly how long you’ll be at the clinic so they don't promise patients a follow-up visit with you after you’ve left town. Establish exactly who calls back which pathology results and how patient messages will be routed after your last day.
4. Show Tangible Appreciation
I treat my MAs to breakfast or lunch every once in a while and recommend you do the same. Showing this kind of appreciation, combined with taking five minutes to clarify the game plan early on, is the fastest way to build a solid working relationship.
