Budgets and Forecasting Resource needs for the Clinician or Technician

Listed below are some suggestions to consider as you prepare for budgets and resource preparation and allocations:

·        Review the budget tools and forms your facility uses 6-8 months before the budget submission is required. This will allow you time to research and gather the needed information well in advance of submission.

·        Work with manufacturers as soon as possible to allow them the opportunity to be of best service to you. Waiting until the last minute for a quote is not only inappropriate, but it also does not allow for revisions if errors or corrections/updates are needed.

·        Ask administration for their plans for the next fiscal year and thereafter if possible. You cannot possibly plan a budget for other resources if you have no idea where efforts in volume growth efforts will be placed, as a single example. Also, ask this same question of all of your customers, too.

·        Once you have anticipated volume information, specialty information, growth intentions, start to formulate what will be needed to execute processes to ensure you can continue to provide the same or better quality service based on this new information.

These basics steps, combined with others, will help to best prepare you for a budget submission that is based on real data and analysis. It’s harder for administration to say no to something when facts are present and risk/benefit analysis is clear. Some facility just won’t have the resources regardless of the effort you place in preparing for your submission.

However, it doesn’t mean you should go through the exercise, but you never know. Besides, it is imperative to always be “prepared”. This includes budget work, not just technical and process elements of running a SPD department!