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MANAGING STAFF

Don’t delay if you have to deliver bad news

By Lynne Curry “It’s not the difficult conversations that bite you the hardest,” I told the manager. “It’s the ones you put off until too late.” I listened to the manager’s reasons and told him, “Here are the risks you take. You dread telling ‘Robert’ what and how he needs to improve because he lashes out at you and remains sullen for days after you’ve counseled him. You finally draft a written reprimand, but before you deliver it, Robert voices a safety concern in front of others. Now your reprimand seems seem retaliatory—and Robert’s an employee who feels justified in reporting his grievance to a regulatory agency.” “You’ve told me ‘Caitlin’ spends more time talking with coworkers than working. She makes lots of errors. You keep hoping she’ll improve, but… . . . read more.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS

7 ways to support mental health in your office

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good time to devote some thought to how you can support mental health in your office. Here are some ideas for advancing mental health in the workplace: Encourage open communication: Encourage your employees to speak openly about their mental health and provide a safe space for them to do so. Encourage managers to be approachable and understanding, and provide training on how to handle these conversations. Promote work-life balance: Encourage your employees to take breaks and disconnect from work when they need to. Promote flexible working hours, so employees can balance their work and personal life. Provide resources: Provide resources and tools to help employees cope with mental health issues. These could include access to counseling services, employee assistance programs, or mental health… . . . read more.

COMPLIANCE

Text messaging can get your medical office in trouble with HIPAA

There are several pitfalls associated with using text messaging in a medical office when it comes to complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Here are a few examples: Lack of Encryption: Standard SMS text messages are not encrypted, which means that messages containing sensitive patient information can be intercepted and read by unauthorized parties. HIPAA requires that all electronic communications containing protected health information (PHI) be encrypted to protect patient privacy. Device Theft: If a mobile device containing patient information is lost or stolen, this could lead to a HIPAA violation. Mobile devices should be password protected and have the ability to be wiped remotely in case of loss or theft. Lack of Control: When healthcare providers use their personal phones for work purposes, they… . . . read more.

TELEWORK

The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare

By Lynne Curry Question: Several of our employees regularly travel out of state. Before the pandemic, they took vacations for several days or weeks. They and we understood they were on vacation. The situation was clear cut. Our current team includes three employees who want to travel and stay for weeks or even months, in places like Hawaii and Thailand or with relatives. While they insist they can work and should receive full paychecks, this doesn’t seem fair to the rest of us who remain onsite and have to pick up the pieces when our “travelers” can’t be easily reached. We agree they can get some work done, but have no way of knowing if they’re putting in 40 hours a week. We tried to explain how messy this felt… . . . read more.

TOOL

Model Policy: Substance Abuse and Fitness for Duty

Workplace substance abuse remains a major challenge for workplaces. Although sound in principle, the traditional zero tolerance policy is ill-suited to the legal complexities of the modern world. This is especially true in states that have legalized marijuana. You can still take a clear and firm line on employee drug and alcohol abuse for the purpose of health and safety. But the policy also has to exhibit finesse and sensitivity to legal subtleties. One of the best ways to create an enforceable policy is to base it not on the legality of substance abuse but the undisputable fact that it renders employees unfit for duty to the detriment of safety. Here’s a Model Policy you can adapt.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Model Policy: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control

Why you need this policy:

All medical practices need infection control policies and procedures. And with regard to one particular form of infection—bloodborne pathogens that get into the bloodstream via puncture or piercing by contaminated needles or other medical sharps—QA measures must include a specific exposure control policy that meets the requirements of the federal workplace safety law called OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Act)—specifically, the regulation or “standard” dealing with bloodborne pathogens.

WORKPLACE SAFETY

7 tips for a safe winter commute

In the best of winters, driving to and from the office can be challenging. This winter continues to be downright dreadful in many parts of the country. Snow, ice, and cold weather can all create hazardous conditions on the road, and it is important to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Here are tips for winter driving safety for you and your staff. Plan ahead: Before you set out on your commute, be sure to check the weather forecast and road conditions. If there is a storm or bad weather expected, consider leaving early or finding an alternative mode of transportation. Prepare your vehicle: Make sure your vehicle is in good working order before embarking on a winter commute. Check your brakes, tires, and fluid… . . . read more.

WORKPLACE SAFETY

10 tips for winter safety in your office parking lot

As extreme winter conditions continue in many parts of the country, remember to have your office parking lot maintained for the safety of your employees and patients. Here are some tips for promoting safety in your office parking lot this winter and being better prepared for future winters: Clear the parking lot of snow and ice regularly to improve traction and reduce the risk of slips and falls. This may involve hiring a contractor or having staff members take turns clearing the lot. Mark slippery areas with caution signs or cones to warn drivers and pedestrians of potential hazards. Install snow fences or berms around the perimeter of the parking lot to help prevent snow drifts from blocking entrances and exits. Stock up on supplies such as sand, salt, and… . . . read more.

CYBERSECURITY

Treat passwords like underwear: Change often and don’t share

Did you know that most confirmed data breaches involve the leveraging of weak, stolen, or default passwords? One of your practice’s frontline defenses for avoiding the phishing  attacks and other cybercriminal schemes is effective password management. How well are you managing yours? Take this quiz from Michael J. Sacopulos, JD, founder and CEO of the Medical Risk Institute, to find out.  Strong passwords are too complicated to remember. It’s fine to use passwords that are short and easy.            True or False?  Answer: False Easy passwords are easy to crack. Popular passwords in the United States continue to be “password” and “12345.” These weak passwords offer little security and are simply dangerous. Instruct your team to create strong passwords that contain a mix of letters, cases, and… . . . read more.

WORKPLACE SAFETY

Are there guns in your workplace?

By Lynne Curry If you think the national division over guns hasn’t hit your workplace, you haven’t been listening. Not only are the employees who advocate for increased gun control, including a ban on assault-style rifles like the AR-15, engaged in an active argument with those who argue for fewer restrictions on gun owners’ ability to carry concealed firearms—but some of your coworkers or employees may be packing. Does your employee handbook address whether your employer allows employees or non-employees to bring guns onto worksites? What about whether employees can keep guns in their cars or trucks? The concealed handgun permit statues in many states don’t address whether those legally permitted to own guns can bring them to work or carry them into others’ workplaces. Instead, it’s up to employers… . . . read more.


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