To grow in the job, a manager has to communicate ideas and visions and recommendations. And the presentation of them counts. "It doesn't matter how good the idea or how brilliant the insight," if it isn't well articulated, it fails, says Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, a San Francisco executive speech coach. Worse, the manager's career can fail right along with it. Here are the … [Read more...] about How to deliver a great presentation on any topic
Purchasing and leasing
Your biggest job? Motivating your staff
By Steve M. Cohen bio There are a lot of tough jobs associated with managing a medical office. One of the most difficult is motivating your staff and keeping them motivated. This area is difficult for several reasons. It's intangible—you can't always see the results, at least not immediately. What works for one person often won't work for another. Worst of all, it's … [Read more...] about Your biggest job? Motivating your staff
Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
Manager Arlene Zimmerman had an IT cost awakening when the computer went down. She called in the vendor's tech support and paid $100 to find out the computer was simply unplugged. "I told myself 'never again!'" says Zimmerman, who manages four-physician Colorado Springs Family Practice in Colorado Springs, CO. So she started on a path of building up as much IT support as … [Read more...] about Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
How to handle a rude dude
As a medical office manager, you interact with a lot of people. There are staffers, contract workers, patients, sales reps, clinicians, and physicians, as well as service technicians, building and maintenance workers, and others. Given that you are in contact with so many people, you are bound to come across a type of person that, unfortunately, is common to the human … [Read more...] about How to handle a rude dude
Recovering from data corruption or loss
Many businesses, including medical practices, that rely heavily on network data to conduct business operations, interact with customers or patients, process payments, or for remote access for off-site employees believe they are protected from data loss or network failure because they have a "backup and recovery" system in place. Unfortunately, this false sense of security can … [Read more...] about Recovering from data corruption or loss
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
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
5 proven tips to manage purchasing and inventory more effectively
Medical supplies are essential to the practice, so you must keep sufficient quantities on hand. Sounds simple to someone on the outside looking in, right? But, as you know, it’s not. Financial constraints have physicians questioning every expenditure – and because many items have expiration dates you don’t want to over order. What’s a conscientious … [Read more...] about 5 proven tips to manage purchasing and inventory more effectively
Five bonus tips from our readers
1. One manager sets a positive theme for each staff meeting and lists it at the top of the agenda. Staff spend the last 15 minutes of the meeting discussing it. The theme can be anything. At one meeting it was Do you really know what this person is doing? Then each staffer explained her duties to the group. Sometimes the theme is used to correct a problem without hitting people … [Read more...] about Five bonus tips from our readers
Standing desks—fad or functional?
You might want to stand up for this: "Sitting is the new smoking," says a recent study on the economic impact of reduced physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. Indeed, it's well documented that we are, essentially, sitting far too much, and for far too long. The results of this have been shown to be negatively affecting our health, and waistlines. Unfortunately, studies … [Read more...] about Standing desks—fad or functional?