Medical Office Manager

How to coach the team member who hovers just below standout—and why they matter more than you think You know this person. They show up on time. They’re pleasant. They hit deadlines—most of the time. Their work is…fine. Sometimes even very good. But never consistently excellent. They’re not a problem employee. They’re not a star. They live in that vast…

A software renewal notice arrives, and the easiest response is to approve it. The practice needs the system, staffers know how to use it, and replacing it would be another project on an already crowded list. But before you renew, spend a little time watching how the software fits into an ordinary workday. You may discover that the practice is…

When a new staffer joins your medical office, it makes sense to pair that person with someone who knows the work thoroughly. Your most experienced receptionist, medical assistant or billing staffer may seem like the obvious choice. But doing a job well and teaching it well require different skills. Someone who handles a busy morning effortlessly may struggle to explain…

A supply order arrives, and a staffer opens a cabinet to put it away. Behind another box sits an unopened package of the same item. Was the new order unnecessary? Perhaps. Or perhaps the practice needs both packages, but nobody knew where the first one was stored. Duplicate purchasing often begins with an ordinary problem: someone cannot find a supply,…

One physician wants forms printed before the patient arrives. Another prefers to review them on screen. One wants a particular exam-room arrangement; another asks staff to set up the same room differently. Checkout instructions vary depending on whose patient is leaving. Some differences support the care physicians provide. Others are preferences that have become office procedures without anyone deciding whether…