Family Practice Physician Onboarding Checklist

Family Practice Physician Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Family Practice Physician starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Healthcare onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Family Practice Physician, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Family Practice Physician onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Family Practice Physician Onboarding Checklist

1. Credentialing and Licensing: The family practice physician must complete the necessary paperwork and provide documentation to obtain medical licenses and credentials required by the state medical board. This task is typically performed by the physician themselves, with assistance from the medical staff or administrative team.

2. Orientation and Introduction: The new physician should be provided with a comprehensive orientation to familiarize them with the organization’s policies, procedures, and culture. This may include introductions to key personnel, a tour of the facility, and an overview of the electronic medical record system. The human resources department or a designated staff member usually handles this task.

3. Review of Clinical Protocols and Guidelines: It is crucial for the family practice physician to review and understand the clinical protocols and guidelines established by the organization. This ensures that they are aligned with the standard of care and can provide consistent and quality healthcare services. The medical director or a senior physician within the organization typically oversees this task.

4. Familiarization with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System: The physician should receive training on the organization’s EMR system to efficiently document patient encounters, order tests, and access medical records. This training is usually conducted by the IT department or a designated EMR trainer.

5. Introduction to Support Staff: The new physician should be introduced to the support staff, including medical assistants, nurses, and administrative personnel, who play a vital role in the smooth functioning of the practice. This introduction can be facilitated by the practice manager or a senior physician.

6. Review of Practice Policies and Procedures: The family practice physician should be provided with a comprehensive review of the practice’s policies and procedures, including appointment scheduling, prescription refill protocols, referral processes, and billing procedures. This task is typically performed by the practice manager or a designated staff member.

7. Collaboration with Specialty Physicians: If the organization has specialists or consultants, the new physician should be introduced to them to foster collaboration and ensure seamless patient care. This introduction can be facilitated by the medical director or a senior physician.

8. Review of Quality Improvement Initiatives: The family practice physician should be made aware of any ongoing quality improvement initiatives within the organization. This may include participation in clinical audits, performance reviews, or quality improvement committees. The medical director or quality improvement coordinator typically oversees this task.

9. Introduction to Hospital Affiliations: If the family practice physician is affiliated with a hospital, they should be introduced to the hospital’s medical staff and familiarized with the hospital’s policies and procedures. This introduction can be facilitated by the medical director or a designated staff member.

10. Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements: The physician should be informed about the organization’s CME requirements and opportunities for professional development. This may include attending conferences, workshops, or online courses. The medical director or a designated staff member typically handles this task.

11. Review of Insurance and Billing Processes: The new physician should receive training on the organization’s insurance and billing processes to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement. This training is usually conducted by the billing department or a designated staff member.

12. Introduction to Community Resources: The family practice physician should be provided with information about local community resources, such as social services, support groups, and specialists, to facilitate appropriate referrals and enhance patient care. This information can be compiled by the practice manager or a designated staff member.

13. Compliance Training: The physician should undergo compliance training to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines. This training is typically conducted by the compliance officer or a designated staff member.

14. Introduction to Telemedicine Platforms: If the organization offers telemedicine services, the new physician should receive training on the telemedicine platforms used and understand the protocols for virtual patient encounters. This training is usually conducted by the IT department or a designated telemedicine coordinator.

15. Review of Emergency Response Protocols: The family practice physician should be familiarized with the organization’s emergency response protocols, including procedures for handling medical emergencies, natural disasters, or other critical incidents. This task is typically overseen by the medical director or a designated staff member responsible for emergency preparedness.

16. Introduction to Research Opportunities: If the organization is involved in research activities, the new physician should be informed about any ongoing research projects and opportunities for participation. This introduction can be facilitated by the research coordinator or a designated staff member.

17. Review of Patient Satisfaction Surveys: The physician should be made aware of the organization’s patient satisfaction surveys and the importance of patient feedback in improving the quality of care. This task is typically overseen by the practice manager or a designated staff member responsible for patient experience.

18. Introduction to Peer Review Process: The family practice physician should be familiarized with the organization’s peer review process, which involves the evaluation of clinical performance and adherence to professional standards. This introduction can be facilitated by the medical director or a designated staff member responsible for peer review.

19. Review of Infection Control Measures: The physician should receive training on infection control measures, including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment usage, and proper disposal of medical waste. This training is typically conducted by the infection control nurse or a designated staff member.

20. Introduction to Ethics Committee: If the organization has an ethics committee, the new physician should be introduced to its members and understand the process for ethical consultations and decision-making. This introduction can be facilitated by the medical director or a designated staff member responsible for ethics committee coordination

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Family Practice Physician checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Family Practice Physician up to speed and working well in your Healthcare team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.