With this knowledge, have you developed a system to help them make decisions that will help you in your management of an injured person’s rehabilitation?

The issue of how to obtain timely, useful and applicable information from GP’s, NTD’s, Specialists and Treating Health Professionals is an old one.

Would you be interested to know that I have had GP’s and a NTD explain to me that they have felt bullied by Rehabilitation Consultants?

Are you like me and have experienced:

• Being annoyed that you continue to be the ‘meat in the sandwich’ for your client, and their insurer, employer and GP/NTD?
• Being intimidated by potentially aggressive, confronting Treating Health Practitioners who belittle your expertise?
• The relentless demands on your time to chase up and obtain the medical advice you need to drive your cases forward?

Developing a communication strategy with Treating Medical and Health Professionals from the beginning of your intervention with any client is another key to successful information sharing.

I am not talking about the company generated letter that gets sent to everyone upon the receipt of a referral. This is a real, purposeful, initial contact that will set the agenda, expectations and tone for all future communications.  With this, we set the scene for an information exchange.

Take a look at this short video. As you listen carefully you will find 3 specific strategies that will empower you to take control of all of your communication and achieve faster more useful results.

Have you stopped to consider just how important our role is when we act as a conduit of information?

Not only do we directly INFLUENCE and COMMUNICATE information, we are engaged in an information exchange.

Consider this: if you are not getting the information you want and the answers you need, what information can you provide to the treating Doctor, NTD, Health Practitioner that would assist them in making decisions that will in return give you the information you need?

Something else I have learned in the past 17 years is that to get better quality, more useful and applicable information, I needed to learn how to ask a better question. Now that is information I wish I had 17 years ago!

Experience alone will not teach you how to influence and communicate with GP’s, NTD’s and Treating Health Professionals. There is a method and application of a specific communication strategy that if taught and applied will result in significantly increased outcomes for information

Effective communication is vital to our success as Rehabilitation Professionals.  Applying a specific communication strategy to treating GP’s, NTD’s and other Treating Health Professionals will contribute directly to faster outcomes, better results and improved satisfaction for the work we are doing.

Have a fabulous rest of the week.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Jo (from Purple Co)

Are you like me?

I thought I had a great ability to get the information I needed from GP’s and Treating Health Professionals.  It would always take me a long time; and it would mean I needed to organise case conferences very regularly but I got the information I needed…….eventually.

My approach however was expensive.  Expensive not only for my rehab case costs but expensive for the demands on my time.

What if there was a better way? A quicker way? A more cost-effective way? A more personally fulfilling way to get the information you need from those involved with your client and without the need for regular case face to face conferences.

Well there is!

I have mentored several Rehabilitation Consultants in the past 3 years, of different disciplines, whom I have been able to assist develop more effective and time efficient ways of getting MORE from their interaction with Treating Medical and Health Professionals.

The first key to developing open communication channels with Treating Medical and Treating Health Practitioners is to understand your INFLUENCE.

How you use your influence to build rapport quickly and deliberately will enable you to develop a communication channel where information can be exchanged and clients can participate in an integrated, transparent rehabilitation process where they remain the centre of their own experience.

The second key is a SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.  Like you, your colleagues and your customers, not all GP’s and NTD’s like to be communicated with/to in the same way.    I will address this in my next Article .

Experience alone will not teach you how to influence and communicate with GP’s, NTD’s and Treating Health Professionals. There is a method and application of a specific communication strategy that if taught and applied will result in significantly increased outcomes for information flow, responsiveness and cost effectiveness.

We are expected to INFLUENCE Treating Medical and Health Professionals.  Here is an opportunity to learn specific strategies to apply your INFLUENCE to achieve faster, more cost effective results.

Have a fantastic day.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

Jo (from Purple Co)

Are you frustrated that they cannot, or will, not answer the questions you need answered within reasonable time frames?

So was I!

Take a look at this short video. If you listen carefully you will find 3 specific strategies that will empower you to take control of all of your communication and achieve faster, more useful results with such communication.

This video shows you 3 specific ways you can get MORE from every communication right now.  These 3 are part of 6 specific strategies that I have developed and worked with successfully.  All these strategies can be implemented prior to needing to involve any level of independent medical opinion (IMC, IMO and IME).

• How much more quickly will you make progress with your clients when you have the medical information you need when you need it?
• How much more will you be able to achieve if you don’t have to resort to adversarial use of “independent advice” to achieve communication.
• How many more referrals will you attract because you are able to access medical information from Treating Health Professionals quickly and cost effectively?
• How much more personally satisfying will it be for you to be treated as the Health Professional you are as you engage in purposeful and real conversations with GP’s and NTD’s where information is exchanged  freely?

After all, who really wants to be sitting in a medical centre at 4pm on a Friday afternoon waiting for a GP who is running 2 hours late?  I don’t!

We can’t escape the need to interact with Treating Medical and Health Professionals as Rehabilitation Professionals.  Let’s learn how to use our exciting knowledge and skills to improve our communication and improve outcomes.

Have a great week

Jo (from Purple Co)

PS……

Wow!  Before I published this article, a heated discussion about the subject started after I shared it with  a group of Consultants on Facebook.  (to join the conversation go to https://www.facebook.com/PurpleCo).  There are some strong opinions about this message.

Well, I am guessing you already know that the best way NOT to help a client get a job is to treat job seeking as ‘compliance management‘.

I guess you also know that there is an assumption made, for Rehab Counsellors and Psychologists, that when you get a job in Occupational Rehabilitation then you automatically know how to get a client a job.  I don’t think that is true.  But you don’t get off that lightly.  If you were able to get yourself a job, chances are, that you can teach someone else ‘how to get a job’.

In 17 years of experience in rehabilitation consulting, and teaching, training and mentoring Rehabilitation Consultants, the BEST way to assist clients get a job is to know what type of consultant you want to be.

It may come as a surprise to you, but you don’t have to be everything to everyone!  Actually that’s pretty impossible.

Let me explain what I mean in this 3 minute video:

Choose what type of consultant you want to be when it comes to helping clients to get a job.  If you are well motivated and working to your strengths you are going to have much greater success, AND you will enjoy the job search part of your job so much more (imagine that, actually enjoying the job search client’s you have).

Build upon your success in 3 ways:

1. Resource yourself
2. Develop expertise
3. Empower client’s to use their own networks

I would love you to join the conversation about how you think the best way has been to help your client’s to get a job.  Please leave a comment in the comments section below; or join the  conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PurpleCo.

Have a fantastic week

JofromPurpleCo

How we manage our efficiency, is how we behave effectively.  There is a whole range of thoughts and attitudes tied up in how we approach our work.  The purpose of this brief power-shot is not to unveil those unhelpful thoughts and beliefs ( lets save that fun stuff for another day) but to share with you 3 simple, easy to apply ACTIONS you can implement right now that will shine a HUGE big spotlight on where you can become more efficient and by consequence more effective.

1. 1.      STOP asking yourself how will I get this approved?

Instead ask – what does my client really need? 

If you are so convinced and certain of what you know your client needs, then it will be easy to ask for and receive the approval.  You have to be convinced of your own professional judgement and have certainty around how YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE to a client. 

1. 2.      STOP double handling  information

I made a HUGE impact on my business and my work-life and I saw just how many times I was repeating the same information over and over again about a client.  This is so not necessary.

A challenge for us – who can find the number of ways to use the same information so you only write it once?

3. Schedule EVERYTHING

Seriously, I mean everything.  If you think you are overworked, or have too many clients this is the BEST way to confirm the answer.  This takes discipline and commitment , but I can assure you it was s the most worthwhile  activity I implemented in 2011.  My effectiveness and my income grew considerably.  What I LOST was anxiety and the constant state of urgency that appeared to plague my case load because I was over committed.

The ability to achieve KPI’s or revenue targets is not based on a Magic number of clients in your case load.

When you take ACTION and implement these 3 simple tactics you will be empowered and in control of your work.  You will NOT be controlled by the urgency of everyone one else  right now!

Who is up for the challenge in Tip #2 – send me a message in the box below,  how many ways can you find to use the same information???????

“You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”. – Aristotle

Happy Consulting –

If you know someone who might benefit or like to know this information, please feel free to share.

Jo

Check out what’s new at Purple Co

http://purposeforpeople.com.au/mentoring

http://purposeforpeople.com.au/career-assessment-coaching

Does your recommended reading get done when  you need a procrastination  strategy?

OR, does it wait until you made a bit of a boo boo at work because you weren’t up to date ( that’s embarrassing huh!)

Well here you go, some new changes have been made to the SRC Act that came into effect as of 7 Dec 2011.  I thought these were kind of important and would be a helpful thing to know….. so straight from the Comcare website to you.

19 Dec 2011

A number of changes to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 came into effect on 7 December 2011.

The changes include:

• the reintroduction of compensation for injuries sustained during an ordinary recess—such as a lunch break
• the introduction of coverage for certain employees working outside Australia where the Minister declares the country or class of employee covered by legislative instrument
• ongoing compensation for medical expenses even if payment of other compensation is suspended
• access to the Consolidated Revenue Fund to pay compensation for certain long latency diseases
• enabling development of regulations that will prescribe time limits for claims determinations and reconsiderations.

Comcare will issue Jurisdictional Policy Advices soon to explain the changes in more detail. For further information please contact Comcare on 1300 366 979 or email strategic.policy@comcare.gov.au.

if you would like to know more then click here to go to the Comcare website

What do you think of these new changes?  How will it change your management of a Rehab Plan for an   employee under the SRC ACT?  Leave your comments, thoughts questions in the comments section below.  Would love to generate a discussion on this topic.

Happy reading

Jo

Wanted to send a quick message to you to say thank you for your support in 2011.   Your  contributions  are  very much appreciated.  I am excited by what 2012 has in store for us.  Take a moment to watch my short video.

If you would like to know more about the Training or the Mentoring, send  me an email , or click on this link –> purple@purposeforpeople.com.au with the headline  “Hey Jo I want to know more”.

Have a great Christmas and New Year.  May 2012 be the start of something awesome for you!

Jo

Are your habits (the things you repeatedly do) serving you or holding you back?  In order to reach our goals in business, and in life, we must become the person it takes to do the things we need to do in order to reach our goals.

To ‘check-in’ as to whether or not we are conspiring for our own success ask yourself these questions

1. What things are you doing, that you should do LESS of?

a. .

b. .

c. .

2. What things are you doing, that you should STOP?

a. .

b. .

c. .

3. What things are you doing, that you should do MORE of?

a. .

b. .

c. .

4. What things are you NOT doing, that you need to start?

a. .

b. .

c. .

If you can look at all four of these questions, then it will be easy to create good habits.  You don’t need more time, you just need to stop, or do less of, the things that are creating bad habits. And of cause continue to do the things and ‘Being’ the person that is driving your own bus to your desired destination.

Download a copy of Creating Successful Behaviours and Habits form.

“You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”. – Aristotle

It’s been an interesting experiment again this week, where I have given myself permission to NOT look at a phone or be online while I have been en route somewhere.  It’s been really really hard!

• Sitting still for 10 – 30 minutes without looking at my phone, checking emails, reviewing FaceBook, Linked In or blog post comments.
• Sitting still for 10-30 minutes and not talking on the phone.
• Sitting still for 10-30 minutes and looking out a window, enjoying the sun on my face, feeling the breeze on my skin and enjoying the scent of spring in the air.

Like so many of us, I am aware that my smart phone is constantly in front of me, and of course that means I am accessible to the internet, phone calls and all manner of other communication options (including social media).

Because it’s in front of me I feel compelled to respond to it immediately.

Because it’s in front of me and I see a flashing red light, I feel compelled to act with a sense of urgency.

When did I become so needy for constant contact?

What am I so afraid of?  When did I become a slave to the tools originally designed to serve me? Is every email, text message, FaceBook post or tweet really urgent?  Can they wait? How long can they wait?

What would life be like if I didn’t live with a sense of urgency that is created by my tools and equipment?

What would happen if:

• I didn’t answer my phone but let it go to voice mail and return calls in my time on my terms?
• I didn’t have email access on my phone, and then planned specific time to respond to emails?
• I  enjoyed looking out the window of the plane/ bus/ train/ car while I am  travelling

I can tell you what happened to me as a result of my experiment this week:

• My business survived!
• I am calmer and I feel a lot more in control!  (Yeah it surprised me too!)
• My ‘To Do’ list is just as big. My schedule just as tight and I still think of a minute like a balloon that is to be filled up so tight that it doesn’t quite burst but nothing else can fit in there.
• The expectations on my “performance’ and “output” may have increased a little but I have not been so distracted by the compounding effect of more and more details which has enabled me to focus more on the specific task at hand and actually drive efficiency.

After reflecting on all this I say, let’s embrace these gadgets as tools whose purpose is to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

I like the sound of a world where they serve me but not enslave me.

Are you wondering if what you do makes a difference?

Do you sometimes think that you have made no impact; but rather have a “bang head here” sign in front of you.

Like me, do you get frustrated on behalf of client’s when they don’t seem to be able to  catch  a break?

I was really moved to read this story from Jean. I had totally under estimated the influence I had on her, and now she has  carved out a fantastic  work life for herself.  Despite the agenda of her workers compensation insurer, Jean has kept true to her values, and made sure that she remained focused on the life goals she had set for herself. Jean was not a good “stat” but wow, what a woman!

Thank you Jean for reminding me exactly  why I do what I do.  To read  more of Jean’s story follow the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jean-towill/time-passages/203457766401148

Do you have an inpisiring client story  to tell?  We at Purple Co would love to hear it. Email us on the contact page of the site.

Happy Consulting,

Jo