When is the right time to hire an assistant?

We’ve been asked this question quite a few times, so we’re sharing our advice for considering, hiring, and working with an administrative assistant.

Should you hire an administrative assistant?

It may seem obvious to some, but not all private practices need assistants! If you’re just starting out, work with a small base of clients, or can manage the needs of your clients by yourself, you may do just fine with your team of one. Plus, with a great practice management platform, you may be able to delay this extra expense even further! Automations, like appointment confirmations, intake forms, and more, can save you a tremendous amount of time in your weekly workflow.

That being said, the immense amount of paperwork associated with accepting insurance, balancing all of your clients dietary needs and health specificities, plus balancing your personal life, many health and wellness practitioners will find a time when hiring an administrative assistant or office manager is essential.

What does an administrative assistant do?

An administrative assistant can make your life much easier. Here are some tasks that office managers can do to ease your work load:

• Schedule appointments (if you do not have your calendar open to clients)
• Verify insurance claims and re-file claims that may be rejected
• Greet clients when they arrive at your office
• Create social media content and manage your accounts
• Reach out to local businesses to schedule meetings for partnerships
• Book media gigs
• And much more!

When your business is ready, here are 3 reasons to hire an administrative assistant:

1. Better client experience

If your clientele is steadily increasing or has immense planning demands, handling all of their needs may be challenging for one person. An administrative assistant can help make sure every client has the level of care they need.

Additionally, as your clientele grows, it takes more time for one person to perform eligibility checks with insurance, re-submit claims, schedule follow-up appointments (if your calendar is not open for client-scheduling), and more.

2. Expand your business

If your practice is poised for expansion, you may have more of a budget to hire some extra help. An administrative assistant doesn’t just have to perform office tasks, but he or she can help you grow your business as well. By booking media gigs at the local news station, managing your social media pages, or sifting through emails, an administrative assistant can be vital for business growth.

3. More delegation, means better work-life balance

Balancing your business and personal life isn’t always easy. Remember, being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean that you need to forgo any glimpse of a social life. Hiring an administrative assistant can help you take some work off of your plate so you can still grow your business while maintaining your personal life.

This is especially true if you’re experiencing a particularly stressful time in your life, such as becoming a new parent or caring for an elderly parent. Having an extra set of hands in your business can help you maintain the level of professionalism you strive for.

These are just a few factors to consider when thinking about if you’re ready to hire an administrative assistant. There are plenty of possibilities to fulfill the role. Think about local dietetic interns, graduate students, part-time, or virtual assistants too.

We’d love to hear from you if you have any experience with an assistant. Drop a comment below!

If you’re not quite ready to hire an administrative assistant, but want some help automating your business, looking into practice management platforms can be your next step. Learn how you can streamline your business, automate different aspects of your practice and improve client engagement with Healthie.