Tips for a successful virtual meeting

Virtual meetings are a benefit to healthcare organizations with multiple locations. However, this solution also comes with challenges, according to Amy Niehaus, CPMSM, CPCS, consultant for The Greeley Company. For example, it is difficult to read someone’s body language or to tell if someone is fully understanding what you are saying. It can also be a challenge to get folks to participate. During the 39^th Annual National Association Medical Staff Services Education Conference in Seattle this week, Niehaus offered the following tips to overcome the challenges of a virtual conference. Some of her suggestions include:

• Send out an agenda before the meeting and minutes after the meeting, similar to what you would do for an in-person meeting
• Start the meeting with small talk to humanize the meeting
• Treat virtual meetings with as much importance as in-person meetings and give it your full attention
• Solicit input from other attendees who are quiet

If you are struggling with your virtual or in-person medical staff meetings, The Medical Staff Office Manual is full of tips and solutions for meeting management.