Medical Office Manager

Managing patients

Doctors say Affordable Care Act increasing costs

Even as a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholds the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a recent survey of American physicians finds doctors believe it is driving up the cost of healthcare. Sixty-one percent of physicians report an increase in overhead costs for items such as electronic medical records and administrative costs to comply with the ACA. And physicians report it is … [Read more...] about Doctors say Affordable Care Act increasing costs

How to get paid for filling out patient forms

To charge or not to charge? Medical offices don't value their time as much as they ought, according to the office manager for a family practice in Pennsylvania. And one area that's woefully undervalued is the time spent filling out patient forms for things such as disability verification and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). That's time consuming for both doctors and … [Read more...] about How to get paid for filling out patient forms

Telemedicine: staying current amid ongoing changes

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) defines telemedicine, also known as telehealth, as the remote delivery of healthcare services and clinical information using telecommunications technology. This includes a wide array of clinical services using Internet, wireless, satellite, and telephone media. Although telemedicine is often associated with remote consultations, … [Read more...] about Telemedicine: staying current amid ongoing changes

How to handle “emergency” appointment requests that really aren’t emergencies

Does your practice seem to be getting a lot of emergency appointment requests lately? If so, you’re not alone. Patients are under the impression that if they say they have an emergency, they will get the earliest possible appointment. Obviously, all these emergencies present challenges. There are only so many emergency appointment openings, which means you or someone on … [Read more...] about How to handle “emergency” appointment requests that really aren’t emergencies

Model Tool: Employee confidentiality agreement

Why you need this model tool: Medical office staff have access to a wide range of confidential information, including but not limited to patient records. How this model tool helps you: This tool allows you to highlight the importance of confidentiality, and to obtain a staff member's signature acknowledging that she/he understands the repercussions of not maintaining … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Employee confidentiality agreement

How one practice addressed the issue of delinquent patient payments

A medical practice in Fayetteville, GA, had an ongoing situation with 20 or so longtime patients who believed because they knew the doctor personally and even socialized with him that they could pay for medical services when it was convenient for them. Yet, Rick E. Blondeau, practice manager, believed the doctor shouldn't wait to be paid for his service that he performed in … [Read more...] about How one practice addressed the issue of delinquent patient payments

Electronic cigarettes: why your practice needs a “vaping” policy now

Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers. Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered … [Read more...] about Electronic cigarettes: why your practice needs a “vaping” policy now

AMIA recommends changes in the management of medical data

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), the leading professional association for informatics professionals, recommends changes to managing electronic health records (EHRs) that will support patient engagement, improve provider workflow, support innovation, and set the stage for future improvements that will improve patients' health and health care. Recommended … [Read more...] about AMIA recommends changes in the management of medical data

Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people

Olympic gold medalist and reality television personality Bruce Jenner has become Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner's transition has been well documented by the media, culminating in a photo of Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair. Although her journey has been more public than most, Jenner's story is not unique. It is estimated that 700,000 people in the United States are transgender, … [Read more...] about Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people