“Yes” responses indicate a need for adjustments.

• Are you accomplishing less?  If you are and you aren’t sure why, you may need to head back to the office for a few days each week.  If you know why, implement solutions quickly. 
• Is your staff accomplishing less?  If the mice play when the cat is away, decide how you can address this with your staff.  Perhaps an in-office staff member should be promoted to a supervisory position to keep the rest of the staff working as efficiently as possible. 
• Are you “out of the loop?”  If you’re being left out of meetings, key decisions, and major changes in the office, telecommuting isn’t working. 
• Does your staff resent you?  Misconceptions about working from home abound.  If your colleagues think you’re not pulling your weight, you’ll need to put methods of showing them otherwise in place. 
• Are the bosses satisfied?  If you sense discomfort with the current setup, schedule an in-person meeting to determine how to make the necessary corrections.  
• Do patients and vendors know you telecommute?  This is a huge no-no in the virtual office world.  No one outside the practice should know that you’re not in the office during working hours. 
• Are you having technical problems?  Telecommuting can offer technical challenges, such as inconsistent internet connectivity, that are both frustrating and difficult to solve.  If you can’t seem to get past them, heading back to the office may be best. 
• Is your home life suffering?  Though telecommuting theoretically makes work easier, in practice it often results in a confusing and conflicted home-work life.  You may feel isolated or struggle with how to integrate your efforts into team objectives and goals.  You may work too much because your office is “right there” and easy to access after dinner or when you can’t sleep.  Telecommuting is a wonderful opportunity, but it’s not for everyone.
        

If the answer to each of these questions is “no” or is “yes” but easily correctable and you and your practice’s physicians/owners are satisfied with the arrangement, congratulations!  You have successfully transitioned to life as a telecommuting practice manager.  Be sure to reevaluate your policies and procedures every three to six months to ensure that telecommuting continues to work well for your practice.