Medical Office Manager

Managing the office

For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time

For any patients on a payment plan, having a credit card on file is just good business, says a New Jersey practice administrator. Automatic card payments are the only way an office can be assured of getting the agreed-upon amount at the agreed-upon time. The practice administrator uses that approach for a dermatology practice and also for a second practice she manages as a … [Read more...] about For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time

Get organized or suffer

By Steve M. Cohen  bio I usually focus more on the serious sides of personnel management, the kind of issues that can close down a business or organization if mishandled. "Getting organized" might not sound like one of those issues, but I've witnessed cases where disorganization was clearly a factor in success and failure. Especially in environments like those faced … [Read more...] about Get organized or suffer

Practices recognize that health care compliance management must be addressed, despite challenges

A nationwide survey finds health care organizations and businesses, including medical practices, confront time and staffing challenges when it comes to health care compliance management. Expertise is also an issue, as is keeping up with changes. Nevertheless, medical practices and other health care providers recognize the importance of health care compliance management. The … [Read more...] about Practices recognize that health care compliance management must be addressed, despite challenges

Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs

Spending on health care for the privately insured in the United States grew at a steady rate over the past five years, increasing 3.4 percent in 2014, finds a new report from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), a nonpartisan research organization. Use of health care services continued to fall in 2014, while prices for all categories of services continued to rise. Despite a … [Read more...] about Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs

Simple differences may hide volumes

By Steve M. Cohen  bio Management is often a game of differentiating between the mundane and the critical. Like many things involving humans, management often includes a lot of seemingly similar demands that turn out to be very different. One of the most important can involve the difference between "practice" and "policy." Legally and otherwise, there's a … [Read more...] about Simple differences may hide volumes

IOM report targets diagnostic errors, calls for medical offices to help improve process

Estimating that most individuals experience at least one diagnostic error at some point in life, and 5 percent of adults experience an error each year, a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Improving Diagnosis in Health Care," the latest in its Quality Chasm Series, asserts that "[i]mproving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, … [Read more...] about IOM report targets diagnostic errors, calls for medical offices to help improve process

Massachusetts doctor indicted in Anti-Kickback case

A Massachusetts gynecologist was arrested in connection with allegedly accepting free meals and speaker fees from a pharmaceutical company in return for prescribing its osteoporosis drugs, allowing pharmaceutical sales representatives to access patient records, and lying to federal investigators. The physician was indicted on one count of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, … [Read more...] about Massachusetts doctor indicted in Anti-Kickback case

Expect more concerted HIPAA enforcement due to OIG reports

The protection of individuals' private health information isn't being adequately enforced, according to the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG issued two reports criticizing the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for failing to proactively enforce privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and follow … [Read more...] about Expect more concerted HIPAA enforcement due to OIG reports

Lighten up the office for increased productivity

By Steve M. Cohen  bio Let's face it, work is not always fun. As they say, "that's why they call it work." But there is a point where a manager may need to draw a line. Although the problem can take many forms, the issues can often be grouped under the heading of "negativity." An "office complainer" is one example you may know. There are also constant critics, … [Read more...] about Lighten up the office for increased productivity