By Steve M. Cohen bio I know that many office managers sometimes feel like a kindergarten teacher. Even with the best team, there's always one or two who rub each other the wrong way or seem to have more than their share of complaints, either complaints about what they do or say, or what others do or say to them. Ultimately, no one can promise you much more … [Read more...] about Good managers watch for bad behavior
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Predictive analytics and genetic data converge to deliver more effective health care
Health and wellness technologies have the potential to enable the steady growth of novel diagnostic and therapeutic drugs capable of eliminating a plethora of chronic and acute diseases. With the convergence of predictive analytics and mined genetic data, diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities will improve significantly. By upgrading and ingraining the data analytics and … [Read more...] about Predictive analytics and genetic data converge to deliver more effective health care
When an employee has body odor
Q: I don't know how to say this delicately, so I'll get right to the point. A staffer at our practice has terrible body odor. Her B.O. is so bad that several other staffers have approached me, saying they don't want to work with her. Also, they have asked me to do something about the situation. I'm usually good at counseling employees, but this particular problem has me … [Read more...] about When an employee has body odor
Physicians have mixed feelings about technology
A nationwide survey on physician sentiment toward technology, conducted by Geneia, a company creating analytic and technology solutions to improve health care, finds physicians believe technology is both a help and hindrance. Physician views on electronic medical records (EMRs) are representative of their mixed feelings about technology in the workplace. When asked whether … [Read more...] about Physicians have mixed feelings about technology
For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time
For any patients on a payment plan, having a credit card on file is just good business, says a New Jersey practice administrator. Automatic card payments are the only way an office can be assured of getting the agreed-upon amount at the agreed-upon time. The practice administrator uses that approach for a dermatology practice and also for a second practice she manages as a … [Read more...] about For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time
Get organized or suffer
By Steve M. Cohen bio I usually focus more on the serious sides of personnel management, the kind of issues that can close down a business or organization if mishandled. "Getting organized" might not sound like one of those issues, but I've witnessed cases where disorganization was clearly a factor in success and failure. Especially in environments like those faced … [Read more...] about Get organized or suffer
Practices recognize that health care compliance management must be addressed, despite challenges
A nationwide survey finds health care organizations and businesses, including medical practices, confront time and staffing challenges when it comes to health care compliance management. Expertise is also an issue, as is keeping up with changes. Nevertheless, medical practices and other health care providers recognize the importance of health care compliance management. The … [Read more...] about Practices recognize that health care compliance management must be addressed, despite challenges
Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs
Spending on health care for the privately insured in the United States grew at a steady rate over the past five years, increasing 3.4 percent in 2014, finds a new report from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), a nonpartisan research organization. Use of health care services continued to fall in 2014, while prices for all categories of services continued to rise. Despite a … [Read more...] about Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs
Simple differences may hide volumes
By Steve M. Cohen bio Management is often a game of differentiating between the mundane and the critical. Like many things involving humans, management often includes a lot of seemingly similar demands that turn out to be very different. One of the most important can involve the difference between "practice" and "policy." Legally and otherwise, there's a … [Read more...] about Simple differences may hide volumes
Management really does matter
By Steve M. Cohen bio Although most of us assume the obvious, it's worth stressing the underlining need for good management and "mess management" in any organization. There is much that you can do to anticipate the potholes and to navigate around them if you are savvy and prepared. It helps if you have formal education in leadership and management, but even if you don't, … [Read more...] about Management really does matter