Manager Beth C. Pharr of North East Orthopaedics in Tupelo, MS, relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. "I make it a win-win situation," she says. "I tell staff 'this why it's necessary, and this is how it benefits you.'" Such was the case when Pharr set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every office – personal internet use. To … [Read more...] about Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal internet use by staff
Managing the office
Paid sick leave: what medical practices need to know
Currently, there is no federal law that requires private sector employers, including medical practices, to provide paid or unpaid sick leave, explains a new report from XpertHR, an online service for HR professionals from Reed Business Information. Without federal legislation in place, however, several states and local jurisdictions have taken matters into their own hands by … [Read more...] about Paid sick leave: what medical practices need to know
NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
Offices with a limited number of staffers can follow the management lead of a New York medical office manager who has replaced full-staff meetings with 15-minute individual meetings in which she talks with each person privately. In a group, not everything gets brought out, says the manager of the practice, which has just seven staffers. There is no opportunity to listen to … [Read more...] about NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
HIPAA compliance audits: is your practice prepared?
By Paul Edwards bio The next round of HIPAA audits promised by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has been delayed since October 2014, but OCR has made it clear they are still going to happen. Their senior advisor, Linda Sanches, has informed medical office managers, "This is a good time to get your house in order." If … [Read more...] about HIPAA compliance audits: is your practice prepared?
These resources help with ICD-10 compliance
If you missed Medical Office Manager's webinar, "10 Things You Must Know About ICD-10," you definitely want to review the webinar recording and slides, available here. Coding expert Judy Monestime shared information during the presentation that will help your practice meet the October 1, 2015 deadline, and provide assistance as you continue to transition from ICD-9 to … [Read more...] about These resources help with ICD-10 compliance
Despite health care changes, physicians remain happy
Even with ICD-10 creating challenges, the rules governing "meaningful use" of EHRs in a state of flux, and the shift in reimbursement from volume to value, U.S. physicians are still happy in their careers. That's according to the 2015 Great American Physician Survey, sponsored by medical billing software provider Kareo and conducted by Physicians Practice, a publication of … [Read more...] about Despite health care changes, physicians remain happy
Medical professions dominate list of highest paying jobs
Skilled health care professions dominate CareerCast's 2015 list of the highest paying jobs, with surgeon, psychiatrist, and physician rounding out the top three. Other medical careers that landed in the Top 10 are dentist, orthodontist, and pharmacist. Corporate executives, petroleum engineers, and data scientists were the only careers outside of medicine to make the Top 10 … [Read more...] about Medical professions dominate list of highest paying jobs
A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous
By Steve M. Cohen bio There's a big issue that I think is overlooked too often in many offices: job related stress and anxiety. Some stress is good. A certain tension, including awareness of deadlines and the feeling of meeting challenges, is a good thing in any workplace. But too much stress, or stress for too long a time, will overload people. Some handle it … [Read more...] about A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous
How to implement a leave-sharing program
"How can I help?" It's a question that many employees ask when a coworker or a coworker's family member is facing a serious medical issue. One way that employers can facilitate assistance is to allow employees to donate time off to their coworkers who have exhausted all available leave. At first glance, a leave-sharing program appears to be a win-win-win solution. It's a … [Read more...] about How to implement a leave-sharing program
Use rating sites to improve your medical practice
Many people rely on rating sites for hotels, restaurants, and other vacation and leisure activities. But consulting a rating site before making an appointment with a physician, and allowing that site to influence a health care decision? It's more common than you might think. A survey conducted by the University of Michigan finds among people using physician-rating sites, 35 … [Read more...] about Use rating sites to improve your medical practice