Meeting every week with the doctors makes a tremendous difference in how smoothly – and also how successfully – an office operates, says the manager of a pediatrics practice in Colorado. For her office, it's an 8 a.m. meeting every Monday, a good time, because it sets the tone for the week. It also keeps everybody on the same page. And it ensures that the doctors know all the … [Read more...] about Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
Managing patients
What happened when a doctor cried on social media
By Ron Harman King, MS bio There's a lot of debate in the healthcare profession these days about social media. On one hand, I've heard some good arguments against doctors taking precious time from successful practices for social media and also against using social media to communicate directly with patients, which obviously creates big privacy problems. On the other … [Read more...] about What happened when a doctor cried on social media
7 best practices for optimizing your collections
By Ranadene (Randi) K. Tapio, MBA, CMRS, CMC, Guest Contributor bio Collections isn't the most glamorous part of running a practice. Perhaps the only thing worse than making collections calls is receiving them! Unfortunately, collections is necessary and if done correctly, it will allow you to collect on accounts that have sat stagnant for months, sometimes years. In … [Read more...] about 7 best practices for optimizing your collections
Don’t put your good customer service on hold
By Mark Williamson, CEO at PHMG bio Good customer service isn't just limited to providing first-class medical care. From the moment a patient first comes into contact with your company, a high level of service should be at the forefront of your responsibilities. Good manners, a friendly attitude, and going above and beyond all help make your patients feel … [Read more...] about Don’t put your good customer service on hold
What is the ‘patient experience’ like at your medical practice?
You may have come across the term, "patient experience" lately and assumed it is equivalent to "customer experience" in other industries. Although there are similarities between the two terms, there are also major differences. Everything that happens in a customer experience is applicable to the patient experience, says Jason Wolf, president of The Beryl Institute, a global … [Read more...] about What is the ‘patient experience’ like at your medical practice?
Diagnostic errors and test results top ECRI Institute’s patient safety list
Diagnostic errors and improper management of test results in electronic health records (EHRs) were recently named by ECRI Institute as among the most serious patient safety challenges facing healthcare leaders in 2019. Released in conjunction with National Patient Safety Awareness week, ECRI's Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2019 raises the profile of safety issues that pose … [Read more...] about Diagnostic errors and test results top ECRI Institute’s patient safety list
Do your patients know how to properly dispose of medications?
According to a recently released Patient Safety Report, Americans are confident that the medical care they receive is safe and follows proper protocols. In fact, nearly all Americans surveyed (91 percent) who sought medical attention at a doctor's office, hospital, urgent care or other medical facility in the last year agree that their medical professional followed protocols … [Read more...] about Do your patients know how to properly dispose of medications?
6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Medical office managers are often so focused on the day-to-day that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. That big picture is profitability—because, without it, the practice will not remain in business. Although profitability isn't rocket science—after all, only rocket science is rocket science—it does require attention to detail, or what Medical Office Manager … [Read more...] about 6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
By Ranadene K. Tapio, MBA, CMRS, CMC, Guest Contributor bio I know, HIPAA is old news. And ALL of your offices are presenting your patients with a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) already. Right? Are you sure? Do you have systems in place to ensure this is being done? Do you work the front desk, so you know it's getting done? Are you in the back office, and in … [Read more...] about HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
New study highlights importance of meaningful conversations between clinicians and terminally ill patients
The final year of life with serious illness can be filled with emotional distress and uncertainty about treatment options. And when people with serious illness have conversations with their doctors and nurses about their personal values, goals, and what might be ahead with their illness, they are more likely to receive the care they want, feel less distress and report better … [Read more...] about New study highlights importance of meaningful conversations between clinicians and terminally ill patients