Organizing a practice retreat.

Medical practices are often so busy that physicians and their staff have difficulty seeing the big picture. A well-organized practice retreat can provide needed time and space for tackling large practice management problems and establishing new goals. In addition, a practice retreat can enable staff members to get to know each other better and learn new ways to function as a cohesive team. In this article, the author describes the similarities and differences between single-task and team-building retreats. In addition, the author shares practical do's and don'ts for organizing worthwhile medical practice retreats and makes suggestions about possible locations for retreats, recommended follow-up, and team-building exercises.