No matter how tight its HIPAA privacy procedures, if the office isn't also focusing on common sense, the patient data is wide open to compromise. "That's because we do things we don't think about," says Rosemarie Nelson, a principle with MGMA practice management consulting in Syracuse, NY. "It's not hackers trying to get at the office's data" that the manager needs to worry … [Read more...] about HIPAA security can fail if the office doesn’t take common-sense precautions
Technology
Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
By Cheyenne Brinson, MBA, CPA bio The front office is the face of the practice, the first impression for the patient, and the beginning of the revenue cycle. They are tasked with multiple assignments, competing priorities, and a sense of urgency from everyone, yet asked to do it all with a smile. Here are five tips to boost efficiency for the front office. … [Read more...] about Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
Top 5 digital tools to increase medical practice efficiency in 2019
By Lisa A. Eramo, MA bio Busy practice managers are constantly searching for ways to increase efficiency. Sometimes it feels like an unattainable goal. Just when you begin to streamline a process, another challenge arises, and you're immediately drowning in backlogged claims and increased patient wait times yet again. The good news is that practices can leverage a variety of … [Read more...] about Top 5 digital tools to increase medical practice efficiency in 2019
Survey: Patients prefer secure texting over patient portal communication from their physicians
Only 10 percent of patients prefer to receive physician communications via patient portals, whereas twice that many (19.6 percent) favor receiving information via secure text messages when in-person and phone calls are not an option. The new survey, conducted by DrFirst, a provider of e-prescribing and patient medication management solutions, also found that more than 90 … [Read more...] about Survey: Patients prefer secure texting over patient portal communication from their physicians
5 efficiency-draining traps to avoid in your practice
By Karen Mattocks, Vice President of Business Development at RxVantage bio It is a practice manager's worst nightmare. You arrive at work one morning and suddenly realize you no longer have a grip on operational efficiency. Patient wait times are at an all-time high, physicians continue to complain about the electronic health record (EHR), unbilled claims pile up … [Read more...] about 5 efficiency-draining traps to avoid in your practice
Make these your 2 top goals for 2019
Goal No. 1: Win the doctors' respect Everyone knows communication is key and, when it comes to managing a medical office, communicating poorly with the doctors can sabotage your ability to do your job well. Here are a few rules for communicating in a way that generates respect, establishes your credibility, and demonstrates that you can be trusted to manage their … [Read more...] about Make these your 2 top goals for 2019
2018 MGMA conference inspires practice leaders to transform the healthcare industry
By Lisa A. Eramo, MA Leadership, operational best practices, healthcare consumerism, population health management, and value-based care were among the many topics discussed at the 2018 Medical Group Management Association's (MGMA) annual conference in Boston Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. The event included an amalgam of thought-provoking sessions, each of which reiterated the … [Read more...] about 2018 MGMA conference inspires practice leaders to transform the healthcare industry
Telehealth integration offers healthcare advantages for baby boomers
By James B. LeVasseur, Ph.D. bio The looming shortage of qualified doctors and specialists presents a significant challenge for the nation's healthcare system. With more baby boomers requiring healthcare every year, physician demand continues to grow faster than supply. This has created a projected shortfall of between 42,600 and 121,300 physicians, 14,800 to 49,300 … [Read more...] about Telehealth integration offers healthcare advantages for baby boomers
Are you managing or mentoring your staff?
Good managers manage. If this seems like an obvious statement, consider the many areas of the practice you manage: patient scheduling, billing and collections, purchasing and leasing, office technology, compliance, and others. You also manage a staff. If this, too, seems obvious, ask yourself a question: Have you ever taken the time to think about what "managing a staff" … [Read more...] about Are you managing or mentoring your staff?
CMS proposes changes to modernize Medicare and aid the doctor-patient relationship
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes that would increase the amount of time that doctors and other clinicians can spend with their patients by reducing the burden of paperwork that clinicians face when billing Medicare. The proposed rules are intended to help restore the doctor-patient relationship by empowering clinicians to use their … [Read more...] about CMS proposes changes to modernize Medicare and aid the doctor-patient relationship