Happy Administrative Professionals Week! What have you got planned to acknowledge your hard-working support staff? If you've decided to do nothing this year, you may want to rethink that. According to a survey conducted by staffing firm OfficeTeam, two-thirds (66 percent) of workers surveyed said they'd likely leave their job if they didn't feel appreciated. In contrast, just … [Read more...] about The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work
Managing the office
Quick tips to deliver useful, easy-to-use financial reporting
To succeed, the office needs financial reports. And it is the manager's responsibility to see that the doctors pay attention to those reports, that they understand them, and that they take action to keep the numbers on the right track. Thus, it is not just the reports but how they are drawn up and how they are presented that makes the difference. Every day is best … [Read more...] about Quick tips to deliver useful, easy-to-use financial reporting
How to improve your practice’s denial management system
With many payors now intensifying their efforts to deny or reduce claims, your medical office's denial management system is more critical than ever for protecting and increasing practice profitability, according to Beth Pysell, a certified professional coder (CPC) and healthcare consultant for Coding Strategies Inc. Pysell says an efficient denial management system can help … [Read more...] about How to improve your practice’s denial management system
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
7 ways to modernize business writing mechanics
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio You don't need a degree in English to write professional-looking business documents. Here are seven things that add polish to business writing prose. 1. Use standard business fonts. I'm all about creativity. But don't get creative when it comes to business fonts. Stick to Arial or Times New Roman. If the organization you're writing to or for … [Read more...] about 7 ways to modernize business writing mechanics
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
For good marketing, try an open house
Want a marketing approach that's both effective and inexpensive? Try an open house. It's an open sales opportunity, says Robin Samora of Let's Make You Shine, a Boston marketing firm for medical practices and small businesses. It can achieve a number of good things: Introduce the practice to prospective patients Introduce new physicians Show off the expertise … [Read more...] about For good marketing, try an open house
Three key items to negotiate for successful payer contracts
By Steve Selbst bio The purpose of this article is to help you, as a provider, to focus on three key items to look for in payer contracts that will help you to get profitable contracts in place. The three key areas that we will examine are fee schedule amendments, lesser of billed charges vs. contracted rates, and claims' payments. 1. Fee Schedule Fee schedules … [Read more...] about Three key items to negotiate for successful payer contracts
Inside your practice: Communicating, leading, & managing amid change
The only thing constant is change, said the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. And although he never managed a medical practice, his words certainly apply to the healthcare environment. The case for transparency Change is a constant for the healthcare industry. Mergers, acquisitions, facility closings, and new technologies and methods—it's hard enough just to keep up let alone … [Read more...] about Inside your practice: Communicating, leading, & managing amid change
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?