By Nick Hernandez bio By now every physician should be aware of the benefits that can be bestowed upon their practice as a result of social media. Indeed, many practices are engaging in one or more social media platforms on a regular basis. Moreover, staff members are most definitely active in social media, and probably use it while at work. Physicians and … [Read more...] about Is your medical practice’s social media policy adequate?
Managing staff
Report highlights need for greater focus on employee health
Medical practices often stress to their patients the benefits of good nutrition and exercise. And that advice extends to staff members. The cost of obesity By some estimates, Americans spend as much as $316 billion annually on obesity-related medical treatment, and obesity-related absenteeism is estimated to cost employers $8.6 billion in lost productivity. The fattest … [Read more...] about Report highlights need for greater focus on employee health
A four-day week improves quality of life as well as revenues for Florida office
Four days on with Fridays "sort of " off is terrific, says the practice manager of a five-physician, 28-staff medical office in Florida. Quality of life is improved with that extra day every week, she says. And the added advantage is that revenues are above and beyond what they were previously. The practice manager proposed the four-day schedule several years ago when gas was … [Read more...] about A four-day week improves quality of life as well as revenues for Florida office
Effective communication leads to greater staff engagement and better company reputation
A recent Harris Poll that examines the relationship between effective employee communication and perception of employer reputation finds companies that truly connect with their workers may have found themselves a secret ingredient after all. As a whole, American workers rate their employers' reputations favorably, with more than two-thirds of employed Americans rating their … [Read more...] about Effective communication leads to greater staff engagement and better company reputation
What employee drug use is costing your practice
Workers with substance use disorders miss nearly 50 percent more days than their peers, and up to six weeks of work annually, according to analysis from the National Safety Council, NORC at the University of Chicago, and Shatterproof. Despite the alarming new statistics, there is a persistent gap between employer perceptions of impact and the actual human and business costs … [Read more...] about What employee drug use is costing your practice
How to make firing easier on everyone
The termination process is difficult for a manager, as well as the staffer being fired. These three steps won't alleviate all the pain, but they will make the process easier for all concerned. 1 Do it Friday While some human resources experts say firing is best done in the middle of the week, most recommend doing it on Friday afternoon. This time is best for the office because … [Read more...] about How to make firing easier on everyone
Why your latest management decision failed
When making significant decisions, have you noticed how difficult it is to come to a rational decision, even with a mastery of facts and employing logical thinking? Have you noticed that at every step of the process, there are players who push back, so that even the most obvious decisions become tortured? What's going on here? Did you ignore the social space? According to … [Read more...] about Why your latest management decision failed
Medication errors associated with health information technology
Use of health information technology (HIT), such as computerized prescriber order entry systems and pharmacy information systems, can help prevent patient safety problems; however, if designed or implemented poorly, HIT can have significant adverse consequences for patient safety. HIT and medication-error events Between January 1 and June 30, 2016, Pennsylvania healthcare … [Read more...] about Medication errors associated with health information technology
8 Changes to the Trump Travel Ban
Although it applies to all industries, the Trump travel ban will have a disproportionate impact on health care providers. We recently outlined the major effects based on the first version of the executive order and even though the newly issued version looks like the original, there are a few key changes that you need to know about. Here's a quick rundown in the form of a … [Read more...] about 8 Changes to the Trump Travel Ban
Managing the blamer, the crier, and the poor listener
Here are three all too common management problems along with their solutions. They are outlined by Stewart L. Levine, an Oakland, CA, attorney who is also a consultant and trainer in conflict resolution. It's not my fault! Addressing poor performance with the staffer who blames everybody else for it. "Like a good lawyer, be ready to prove the case," Levine says. Come in … [Read more...] about Managing the blamer, the crier, and the poor listener