Manager Arlene Zimmerman had an IT cost awakening when the computer went down. She called in the vendor's tech support and paid $100 to find out the computer was simply unplugged. "I told myself 'never again!'" says Zimmerman, who manages four-physician Colorado Springs Family Practice in Colorado Springs, CO. So she started on a path of building up as much IT support as … [Read more...] about Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
Vacation time
Editor's picks: Paid time off can be anything under the sun, even unlimited vacation How to schedule employee vacations for maximum efficiency and minimum conflict Personal vs. professional life: setting boundaries … [Read more...] about Vacation time
Even when you’re right, you may not be right
By Steve M. Cohen bio We live in times that can be very difficult for managers. It seems as if every day, there are new court cases and precedents that could impact your office. Interpreting these in view of your organization can be difficult. I usually suggest a conservative philosophy. I'm not talking "conservative" as in red states or blue states. I'm … [Read more...] about Even when you’re right, you may not be right
How to handle a rude dude
As a medical office manager, you interact with a lot of people. There are staffers, contract workers, patients, sales reps, clinicians, and physicians, as well as service technicians, building and maintenance workers, and others. Given that you are in contact with so many people, you are bound to come across a type of person that, unfortunately, is common to the human … [Read more...] about How to handle a rude dude
Medical records, social work, and nursing among hottest jobs for people with disabilities
Medical records, social work, nursing, computer systems, and teaching are among the professions offering good opportunities for prospective employees with disabilities, according to a new report from job search portal CareerCast. "The past year brought positive job prospects to this sector of the workforce," says Kyle Kensing, online content editor, CareerCast. "Unemployment … [Read more...] about Medical records, social work, and nursing among hottest jobs for people with disabilities
Award program motivates employees all year
In a New York state office, the employee-of-the-month award goes beyond cursory congratulations. It is a recognition that lasts all year with seven reward components. Staff take the award seriously. When it is announced at the staff meeting each month, employees are supportive of each other. They cry and hug and congratulate the winner, says the manager of the 21-staff medical … [Read more...] about Award program motivates employees all year
Winter blues
Editor's picks: Seasons change. So do laws and regulations 3 ways you can boost office morale fast Mental illness in the workplace: not just "a case of the Mondays" … [Read more...] about Winter blues
Missing the small things can cause big problems
By Steve M. Cohen bio Medical office managers have an unusually wide range of demands, and it's easy, even necessary to keep an eye on the big picture. But sometimes elements that aren't especially strategic can still have major ramifications. Here are a few areas that I've seen cause some big problems. • Lack of written directions and policies, or … [Read more...] about Missing the small things can cause big problems
Recovering from data corruption or loss
Many businesses, including medical practices, that rely heavily on network data to conduct business operations, interact with customers or patients, process payments, or for remote access for off-site employees believe they are protected from data loss or network failure because they have a "backup and recovery" system in place. Unfortunately, this false sense of security can … [Read more...] about Recovering from data corruption or loss
Are you the reason your employees quit?
Most companies strive to hire or promote someone with the right skills to do the job. But when hiring a manager, many fail to take the manager's personality, attitude, values, and emotional intelligence into consideration. What they end up with is a highly technically skilled manager with poor people skills, big ego, "my way or the highway" attitude, and blind spots the size … [Read more...] about Are you the reason your employees quit?