A software renewal notice arrives, and the easiest response is to approve it. The practice needs the system, staffers know how to use it, and replacing it would be another project on an already crowded list. But before you renew, spend a little time watching how the software fits into an ordinary workday. You may discover that the practice is paying for features nobody uses, … [Read more...] about Before You Renew That Software, Watch Staff Use It
Technology
8 Things Never to Do With AI
AI can help your medical office—but it needs firm limits. AI has probably entered your medical practice whether you formally approved it or not. A staffer may use a chatbot to polish an email. A supervisor may ask it to draft a job description. Someone may use an AI feature built into software the practice already owns without realizing that the feature sends information to … [Read more...] about 8 Things Never to Do With AI
Who Owns the Patient Portal Inbox?
The patient portal was supposed to reduce phone calls and make communication easier. Instead, many medical offices have acquired another overflowing inbox—one that may contain everything from appointment requests to potentially urgent clinical questions. A patient asks whether chest discomfort is a medication side effect. Another uploads a photograph of a surgical incision. … [Read more...] about Who Owns the Patient Portal Inbox?
Who Is Watching Your Medical Office Fax Inbox?
Medical offices have adopted patient portals, electronic health records and automated messaging systems. Yet an enormous amount of essential information still arrives through one decidedly unglamorous channel: the fax inbox. Lab results, imaging reports, referral responses, consultation notes, refill requests, prior authorization decisions, hospital records and payer notices … [Read more...] about Who Is Watching Your Medical Office Fax Inbox?
Turn Off the Cable News. Turn On Something Better.
Walk into many medical waiting rooms and you'll find the television tuned to a cable news channel. Patients waiting for an appointment are treated to a nonstop stream of breaking news alerts, political arguments, market swings, natural disasters, and crime reports. Even if the volume is low, the captions alone can raise anxiety in a room already filled with people who may be … [Read more...] about Turn Off the Cable News. Turn On Something Better.
Benefits of Telehealth and How to Integrate it into Your Practice
You're always looking for ways to improve patient care and streamline operations. One game-changer is telehealth, which offers benefits for both your patients and your clinical and office team. First off, telehealth is incredibly convenient. Patients love it because they can have appointments without leaving the comfort of their homes. This is especially great for those with … [Read more...] about Benefits of Telehealth and How to Integrate it into Your Practice
When the Payer Portal Becomes the Bottleneck
Payer portals are supposed to make administrative work easier. Staffers can verify eligibility, check claim status, submit prior authorization requests, retrieve correspondence and handle other transactions without spending half the morning on the telephone. Until the person who has access is out sick. Or the password expires. The multifactor authentication code goes to a … [Read more...] about When the Payer Portal Becomes the Bottleneck
7 Small Tech Fixes That Make Everyone’s Day Easier
Technology problems at work aren’t always dramatic enough to generate an IT ticket. Sometimes they’re just irritating. The conference room computer takes forever to connect. Nobody knows which printer to choose. A shared file is buried six folders deep. Staffers repeatedly type the same information into different systems. Someone asks for the Wi-Fi password for the 40th … [Read more...] about 7 Small Tech Fixes That Make Everyone’s Day Easier
Why Every Office Manager Should Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
You’re the hub of activity and the go-to problem solver when you are an office manager. You’ve probably answered the same questions more times than you can count or had to troubleshoot chaos when key team members were out of the office. These scenarios—and many more—underscore the critical need for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in your office. SOPs might not sound … [Read more...] about Why Every Office Manager Should Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Using Patient Portals to Enhance Communication and Engagement
In today’s digital age, enhancing communication and engagement with your patients is more important than ever. One of the most effective tools at your disposal is the patient portal. This online platform can transform how you interact with patients, making communication more efficient and fostering a deeper level of engagement. Let’s explore how you can utilize patient portals … [Read more...] about Using Patient Portals to Enhance Communication and Engagement