Smart purchasing decisions help a medical practice run more efficiently, improve the practice's bottom line, and make your job easier. But what should you include in purchasing contracts and lease agreements? As important, how do you negotiate the best possible deal for the practice? Determining requirements Before you solicit bids or attempt to negotiate a contract, … [Read more...] about How to Negotiate the Best Possible Purchasing Agreements
Managing the office
How to Navigate Compliance and Regulatory Updates
In the ever-evolving healthcare industry, medical office managers play a pivotal role in ensuring that their practices not only adhere to current healthcare regulations but also anticipate and adapt to forthcoming changes. Compliance and regulatory updates are not merely legal obligations but cornerstones of patient safety, quality care, and operational success. In this … [Read more...] about How to Navigate Compliance and Regulatory Updates
What to Do When Your Doctor Becomes a Patient
Their role as healers makes it easy to forget physicians are subject to the same illnesses that befall other humans. They are not invincible, even though their silence about their own health might lead staff and patients to believe otherwise. Physician illness is a topic that's not often discussed, even within the physician community. When physicians do broach the subject, … [Read more...] about What to Do When Your Doctor Becomes a Patient
Medical Office Audit Tool for Quality and Efficiency
Conducting regular audits is crucial for maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. The following tool will help you systematically evaluate different aspects of your office operations. Use this checklist to identify areas for improvement and ensure your practice runs smoothly. 1. Patient Scheduling and Flow a. Appointment Scheduling: Is … [Read more...] about Medical Office Audit Tool for Quality and Efficiency
Why Every Office Manager Should Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
You’re the hub of activity and the go-to problem solver when you are an office administrator. You’ve probably answered the same questions more times than you can count or had to troubleshoot chaos when key team members were out of the office. These scenarios—and many more—underscore the critical need for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in your office. SOPs might not … [Read more...] about Why Every Office Manager Should Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
How to Schedule Physician-Patient Phone Appointments Efficiently
Scheduling physician-patient phone appointments may seem straightforward, but without a thoughtful approach, it can become chaotic for both your team and patients. By putting the right systems in place, you can ensure these appointments are scheduled efficiently, with minimal confusion and maximum patient satisfaction. 1. Understand the Need for Phone Appointments Determine … [Read more...] about How to Schedule Physician-Patient Phone Appointments Efficiently
18 Great Ideas to Make You a Better Manager
Managing people isn’t something you can learn from a single rulebook. Every workplace has its own personalities, problems, and pace, which means you have to balance authority with approachability, discipline with encouragement, and rules with flexibility. As a manager, you’re constantly navigating how to get the best from your team while also protecting your own time and … [Read more...] about 18 Great Ideas to Make You a Better Manager
Recommended Resources to Make Health Information Easier to Understand
The CMS Office of Minority Health encourages healthcare providers to make health information easier for their patients to understand and navigate. Healthy People 2030—an initiative that identifies public health priorities to help individuals, organizations, and communities across the United States improve health and well-being across a 10-year timeframe—addresses both … [Read more...] about Recommended Resources to Make Health Information Easier to Understand
Model HIPAA Privacy Reminder to Reception and Other Staff
Why you need this memo: Your medical office staff understands the imperative of safeguarding personal health information (PHI) and wouldn't let strangers roam about the facilities freely. But it's easy for them to lower their guard when a former employee comes back to the practice, e.g., to pick up a final paycheck or just make a social call. How this memo helps you: This … [Read more...] about Model HIPAA Privacy Reminder to Reception and Other Staff
How to Navigate Insurance Contracts
Reviewing and negotiating insurance contracts and ensuring compliance with regulations are indispensable tasks for medical office managers. These efforts not only impact the financial stability of the practice but also contribute to the quality of patient care. By approaching these strategically, medical office managers can secure favorable terms, optimize provider networks, … [Read more...] about How to Navigate Insurance Contracts