BY KAREN OTT MAYER

Donna Klutts

Practice administrator for the West Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic (WTBJC) in Jackson and the new president of the West Tennessee chapter of the MGMA, Donna Klutts, reflects on current and future challenges facing practice managers.

"Managing any size practice is a challenge these days," she said. "The healthcare industry remains in a constant state of change."

Medium-sized WTBJC currently employs eight orthopaedic surgeons and has 70 employees. Klutts reports they are currently in the midst of recruiting more surgeons and are always looking for ways to motivate and retain staff.

"Even though clinic management was among one of … Career Journal's Best Careers, these positions are huge responsibilities that require dedicated individuals with supportive staff and families. You need a tremendous appetite for work and dedicated staff to assist," said Klutts.

The issues plaguing practice administrators sound all too familiar: reimbursement, understanding new regulations, recruiting, maintaining profitability, the burden of malpractice, integrating new technology and physician non-compete contracts.

"The malpractice issue is at a standstill," said Klutts. "The expense of premiums and the time taken away from employees to manage malpractice issues affect everyone, especially patients."

Klutts mentors other practice administrators and tells them that, quite frankly, the role involves handling constant change, even for those who have years of experience.

Klutts believes the organizations that navigate successfully have several things in common.

"I believe that successful medical practices surround themselves with a first-rate advisory team including lawyers, accountants, financial planners and practice management consultants," she said. "This team is able to advise practice leadership on a myriad of issues, both external and internal."

Having a unified vision is also beneficial for both the organization and patients. "Working with bright surgeons and management teams comprised of talented, skilled people results in decisions that are made from strong knowledge and experience," said Klutts.

In her present role, Klutts handles operational decisions and is accountable to the surgeons and to the board of directors. Like many other administrators, she oversees the organization's strategy and then acts as the catalyst to implement new plans.



January 2007