The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration released a guideline June 1, 2015 addressing workplace restrooms and access for transgender workers. The "Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers" (Guide) addresses an employer's responsibility under OSHA standards to provide transgender workers access to sanitary toilet facilities. "The … [Read more...] about OSHA addresses employer responsibility regarding transgender workers
How to get paid for filling out patient forms
To charge or not to charge? Medical offices don't value their time as much as they ought, according to the office manager for a family practice in Pennsylvania. And one area that's woefully undervalued is the time spent filling out patient forms for things such as disability verification and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). That's time consuming for both doctors and … [Read more...] about How to get paid for filling out patient forms
Security practices
Editor's picks: HIPAA security can fail if the office doesn't take common-sense precautions How the new HIPAA security rule affects your telecommuter policy 3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security … [Read more...] about Security practices
Being mean and being effective are not the same thing
By Steve M. Cohen bio The New York Times had a great article June 19, 2015, "No Time to Be Nice at Work." Author Christine Porath is on target regarding several significant concerns that are especially relevant today. One of the first things that struck me was her points that incivility has been growing, and that it definitely has costs. Porath joins others in … [Read more...] about Being mean and being effective are not the same thing
Telemedicine: staying current amid ongoing changes
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) defines telemedicine, also known as telehealth, as the remote delivery of healthcare services and clinical information using telecommunications technology. This includes a wide array of clinical services using Internet, wireless, satellite, and telephone media. Although telemedicine is often associated with remote consultations, … [Read more...] about Telemedicine: staying current amid ongoing changes
New compliance guidance for organizations helpful for medical offices
On April 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a compliance guidance document designed to help boards of directors at health care organizations make sure management is effective in implementing compliance programs. While the document is intended for boards of directors, the suggestions and tips for improving … [Read more...] about New compliance guidance for organizations helpful for medical offices
How to handle “emergency” appointment requests that really aren’t emergencies
Does your practice seem to be getting a lot of emergency appointment requests lately? If so, you’re not alone. Patients are under the impression that if they say they have an emergency, they will get the earliest possible appointment. Obviously, all these emergencies present challenges. There are only so many emergency appointment openings, which means you or someone on … [Read more...] about How to handle “emergency” appointment requests that really aren’t emergencies
Model Tool: Employee confidentiality agreement
Why you need this model tool: Medical office staff have access to a wide range of confidential information, including but not limited to patient records. How this model tool helps you: This tool allows you to highlight the importance of confidentiality, and to obtain a staff member's signature acknowledging that she/he understands the repercussions of not maintaining … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Employee confidentiality agreement
5 proven tips to manage purchasing and inventory more effectively
Medical supplies are essential to the practice, so you must keep sufficient quantities on hand. Sounds simple to someone on the outside looking in, right? But, as you know, it’s not. Financial constraints have physicians questioning every expenditure – and because many items have expiration dates you don’t want to over order. What’s a conscientious … [Read more...] about 5 proven tips to manage purchasing and inventory more effectively
Does your office need a ‘medical scribe’?
In an effort to focus more on patient care and less on the clerical aspects of the job, physicians are increasingly turning to medical scribes. If you're not familiar with the term "medical scribe," you'll definitely want to read on. In many ways, a medical scribe is a new spin on a longtime position. For decades, physicians have dictated notes into a tape recorder, relying on … [Read more...] about Does your office need a ‘medical scribe’?