Objective: To ensure the safety and well-being of staff and patients during extreme heat weather conditions through proactive planning, immediate response measures, and ongoing monitoring. Key Points Preparation Emergency Plan Review and update the office’s emergency plan to include specific protocols for extreme heat. Ensure all staff are familiar with the … [Read more...] about Manager briefing: Extreme heat emergency protocols
Managing patients
Summer vacation staffing checklist for medical office managers
Planning for summer staffing, when many people want to be away on vacation, should have started well before today, but here's a checklist to make sure you have thought of everything. 1. Plan Early and Communicate: Request Vacation Schedules Early: Ask staff to submit their vacation requests at least 2-3 months in advance. Create a Vacation Calendar: Post a visible … [Read more...] about Summer vacation staffing checklist for medical office managers
3 tips for better patient education
The link between patient education and outcomes is clear: When patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan, they’re more likely to become and remain healthy. In fact, health literacy—the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions—should be a top priority for medical practices … [Read more...] about 3 tips for better patient education
Leveraging voice technology for streamlined operations
Voice technology, powered by sophisticated natural language processing and artificial intelligence, has emerged as a powerful tool that can revolutionize the efficiency and productivity of medical office management. Here are some ways in which voice technology can be harnessed to optimize workflow, improve patient interactions, and streamline administrative tasks. 1. … [Read more...] about Leveraging voice technology for streamlined operations
What to do when patients use the internet for self-diagnosis
There’s a wealth of medical information online, and increasingly patients are tapping it to come up with their own diagnoses. Needless to say, this results in numerous challenges for medical practitioners and office staff. But how exactly do you navigate the issues that arise from too much information – information that, incidentally, is often incorrect? First, the … [Read more...] about What to do when patients use the internet for self-diagnosis
Integrating telemedicine into your practice
The healthcare landscape is evolving, and telemedicine has emerged as a transformative tool for medical practices to expand their reach, improve patient access, and provide high-quality care remotely. Integrating telemedicine services into your practice requires careful planning and execution, considering aspects like technology, staff training, patient communication, and … [Read more...] about Integrating telemedicine into your practice
How to make a collection call to a patient
A collection call to a patient should never be offensive. But it does need to be firm. Remember, the goal is to collect an unpaid balance. With this in mind, here's what to say and how to respond to what a patient says. Begin by putting the patient on the spot, without being confrontational. One possible approach is, "We haven't received payment for this bill we sent you 30 … [Read more...] about How to make a collection call to a patient
What does the Americans with Disabilities Act require of your medical office?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires medical offices to make reasonable modifications to their policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue burden or fundamentally alter the nature of the services provided. This includes ensuring that the facility is physically accessible to … [Read more...] about What does the Americans with Disabilities Act require of your medical office?
Track these 5 metrics for practice profitability
By Mike Rigert “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … , ” wrote author Charles Dickens in his classic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities.” While it’s certainly not the worst of times for most healthcare practices (that honor likely went to 2020-2021), things could always be better, … [Read more...] about Track these 5 metrics for practice profitability
Interpreters improve patient care
Do you have interpreters on staff or on call for your medical practice? Interpreters are essential for medical care when language is a barrier. Consider the results of a study reported in this article from Boston Children's Hospital: By Veronica Giarla Sharing medical concerns with clinicians can be hard for anyone—a challenge that’s amplified in patients when English … [Read more...] about Interpreters improve patient care