recent headlines – Medical Office Manager

CMS

Updated 2021 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide final rule available

January 10, 2021 by Barb Manning Grimm

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an update to the 2021 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category III Implementation Guide (IG) for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals to support Calendar Year (CY) 2021 reporting. The update includes the list of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) finalized by CMS for the CY 2021 Performance Period based on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule released on Dec. 1, 2020. It also includes information for Improvement Activity Identifiers, Promoting Interoperability Objectives and Measures, and Promoting Interoperability Attestation Statement Identifiers finalized by CMS for the CY 2021 Performance Period based on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. The updated 2021 CMS QRDA III IG outlines requirements for eligible clinicians and eligible professionals to report eCQMs, Improvement Activities, and… . . . read more.

TAGGED WITH: CMS, Federal, QPP, QRDA

HUMAN RESOURCES

5 people problems and how to solve them

January 10, 2021 by Barb Manning Grimm

By Lynne Curry bio We can’t guess all the challenges facing us as office managers in this new year, but we can assume that we will be dealing with an old one: people and their personalities. Whether working together virtually or in-person, chances are good you will be dealing with people problems. Here are five common problems and strategies for dealing with them. Stopping a bully senior manager without losing your job Question: I face a situation that has no easy answer and no easy solution. As the office manager and human resources director, I supposedly enforce our corporation’s code of conduct and oversee the human resource issues. I report to the report to the chief operating officer, a bully who runs roughshod over any employee unlucky enough to cross… . . . read more.

TAGGED WITH: Managing staff, Managing the office, Working with physicians, Your career

Tool

Model waiver of COVID-19 infection liability sign to post at your medical office

January 10, 2021 by Brian Sharples

As long as COVID-19 remains a threat, you run the risk of being sued by clients, vendors, guests and other visitors (“visitors”) who claim they contracted the virus at your office facility as a result of your inadequate safety measures. One way to limit liability is by conspicuously posting a sign at the entry of your facility indicating visitors’ agreement to waive their rights to sue you for COVID-19 infections by entering the office. Although there’s no guarantee that a court would enforce such a waiver, the Model Sign below uses fairly conservative language that has been found to be enforceable in other situations. Caveat: The inclusion of the phrase purporting to insulate you against your own negligence in Sections 3 and 4 is fairly risky and you may want… . . . read more.

TAGGED WITH: Compliance, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Managing patients, Managing staff, Managing the office, Risk management, Workplace Safety

WORKPLACE SAFETY

“COVID captains” keep the focus on safe work practices

January 4, 2021 by Barb Manning Grimm

By Dan Scungio The year 2020 has roared to a close, and COVID-19 is unfortunately still around. We have made changes to our lives at home, in public, and at work. Healthcare workers, in particular, made several changes early on with PPE use and work practices that are still in effect today. A great deal of work had to be done early on this year to provide information to staff in healthcare facilities regarding this updated safety information. At this point, the initial work that needed to be done by safety professionals has been completed. Employees have been educated regarding the continued use of Standard Precautions and how they create protection from pathogens every day. However, as can happen with safety programs, staff become tired of following the regulations, they… . . . read more.

TAGGED WITH: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Risk management, Workplace Safety

LEAVES OF ABSENCE

How to manage maternity or leaves of absence

September 27, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

Employee leaves of absence for maternity or medical reasons can be tricky to navigate and can place heavy staffing and…

INCREASING PROFITS

How to make a collection call to a patient

September 27, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

A collection call to a patient should never be offensive. But it does need to be firm. Remember, the goal is to collect an…

READER TIPS

Getting that new patient info into EHR before appointment

September 27, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

Here are some reader tips for getting new patient information into the electronic health records prior to…

. . . read more

TAGGED WITH: EHR, intake, new patient

Updated 2021 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide final rule available

5 people problems and how to solve them

Model waiver of COVID-19 infection liability sign to post at your medical office

“COVID captains” keep the focus on safe work practices

How to manage maternity or leaves of absence

How to make a collection call to a patient

Getting that new patient info into EHR before appointment

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training on demand

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tools you can use

Tool: Voluntary COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Model Social Distancing Policy

Medical Office Worker’s Acknowledgement of Decision to Decline COVID-19 Vaccination

Tool: Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Model visitors’ waiver of COVID-19 infection liability form