Do you know a brilliant Practice Manager who ticks all the boxes? Visit the AAPM website to nominate or apply for the State PMOY Awards now.
The Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM) State Practice Manager of the Year and Practice Manager of the Year Awards celebrate excellence in healthcare practice management and is open to AAPM members working in specialty practice, general practice, dental and allied health. All State winners are finalists for the coveted National Practice Manager of the Year and this year there is a $5,000 travel voucher included in the grand prize.
What type of Practice Manager deserves such an accolade? Read on….
2016 Practice Manager of the Year winner
Deborah Stidwell, from Brooke Street Medical Centre in Victoria, is last year’s AAPM National Practice Manager of the Year winner and has “built a goldmine” over her 18 years in this role.
Although her business savvy is sublime, the biggest value lies in her excellent employment and management practices, and in the development of innovative services rarely seen in Australian general practice.
At her practice, everyone, regardless of role, is respected. Their opinions and ideas are both sought after and valued, and vigorous debate can take place to achieve quality improvement. Also, key aims are to enjoy work and improve service delivery.
It takes an exceptional practice manager to make this sort of practice a reality, as well as supporting and nurturing the 60-plus staff members who make this practice outstanding.
One of the secrets of Deborah’s success is that she is not afraid to share the limelight. She’s a team player who encourages ideas from any team member. She acknowledges that only a highly functioning team can achieve excellence, and that excellence needs everyone on board. The staff know they are part of something special. They want to go the extra mile and give their best and, with such positive leadership, they can.
As Practice Manager, Deborah has led a team that has grown over 18 years from 12 employees to a 60-strong team today.
Applications close on Wednesday 31 May. Visit aapm.org.au to nominate
Of course, she can’t be everywhere at once, so Deborah has developed a management structure with team leaders to keep alive her goals of excellence in management and never-ending quality improvement in clinical and patient services.
The medical centre is also a hub of teaching and learning – with training for registrars, medical students, student nurses and health students – and provides a base for a number of privately operated medical services.
What does the award mean to the practice?
“This award is like stopping to smell the roses,” says Deborah. “Staff at our practice are so proud!” It also means her staff are lucky to have a very special Practice Manager running the business.
Head to the AAPM website at www.aapm.org.au or call 1800 196 000 to nominate or apply for the State Practice Manager of the Year Awards now!
