Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers. Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered … [Read more...] about Electronic cigarettes: why your practice needs a “vaping” policy now
Managing the office
Social media sabotage: what managers should know
By Steve M. Cohen bio I've commented previously on social media and how employees, prospective employees and employers should view it with both interest and caution. Anyone involved in hiring should be aware of the social media presence of prospective employees and even current workers. This is especially true on business networking sites such as LinkedIn, but … [Read more...] about Social media sabotage: what managers should know
AMIA recommends changes in the management of medical data
The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), the leading professional association for informatics professionals, recommends changes to managing electronic health records (EHRs) that will support patient engagement, improve provider workflow, support innovation, and set the stage for future improvements that will improve patients' health and health care. Recommended … [Read more...] about AMIA recommends changes in the management of medical data
ICD-10 survey: small practices not trained, not ready for transition
A survey conducted by NueMD, a provider of cloud-based medical practice management software for small practices, finds only 13 percent of healthcare organizations are "highly confident" their business will be ready for the October 1 ICD-10 deadline. The survey is based on 1,000 responses from healthcare professionals across all 50 states. Respondents were asked how they … [Read more...] about ICD-10 survey: small practices not trained, not ready for transition
How to manage personal cell phone use in the workplace
"Like many offices, we have had problems with employees using cell phones for personal calls, texts, etc. during business hours," says Beverly Bragg, administrator at San Antonio Preventive & Diagnostic Medicine. It hasn't been an easy problem to resolve. "Although we've talked about this issue on a routine basis at our monthly staff meetings, employees continued to use … [Read more...] about How to manage personal cell phone use in the workplace
Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people
Olympic gold medalist and reality television personality Bruce Jenner has become Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner's transition has been well documented by the media, culminating in a photo of Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair. Although her journey has been more public than most, Jenner's story is not unique. It is estimated that 700,000 people in the United States are transgender, … [Read more...] about Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people
Model Policy: Patient scheduling and appointments
Why you need this policy: Getting patients to properly make and honor their appointments is a challenge faced by just about all practices. Although no-shows, walk-ins, and late appointments can’t totally be prevented, establishing a clear set of ground rules for the making and keeping of appointments can minimize them and establish your right to charge fees and take other … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Patient scheduling and appointments
Medical tourism and your medical practice
If you've been a medical office manager for 10 years or more, you've probably heard of medical tourism. There was a lot of buzz about it several years ago. Experts said medical tourism was the new frontier and it would revolutionize medical care. It turns out the projections were inaccurate and the supposed next big thing didn't exactly take the medical world by storm. Be … [Read more...] about Medical tourism and your medical practice
New law means changes to Medicare cards, challenges for medical offices
A new bill, signed into law by President Obama in April 2015, which addresses the way physicians are paid for treating Medicare patients, has another provision that affects medical practices. A section of the bill indicates that Social Security account numbers must not be "displayed, coded or embedded on the Medicare card." Currently, a Medicare patient's Social Security … [Read more...] about New law means changes to Medicare cards, challenges for medical offices
Why your doctor left town in a huff
Contracts often limit where physicians can work if they change employers Patients may just shrug when they learn their doctor plans to move to a new office. After all, they can just follow, right? Maybe not. Or at least, not easily. Physician contracts often contain restrictive covenants that limit where doctors can work if they leave their current practices. The … [Read more...] about Why your doctor left town in a huff