How can the manager improve morale? Here are five morale-boosters to try in your office: 1 Clinical education One of the most effective morale builders is education in the clinical work the doctors do. At one practice, the doctors give staff regular instruction on the diagnoses they see and the procedures they perform. In another office, the manager sets up sessions at … [Read more...] about 5 easy ways to boost employee morale
Termination
The best ways to find and hire qualified office staff
Recruiting staff Do you struggle to find qualified office staff who are also a good fit for your practice? It can be very difficult to figure out which methods are best for attracting the qualified job candidates you seek. Trial and error can be time consuming, and all too often results in a costly hiring mistake. Here are a few suggestions. Look within There are several … [Read more...] about The best ways to find and hire qualified office staff
In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
No manager can set expectations without giving staff the tools to achieve them, says a California administrator. And the main tool for it all is never ending training. At Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group, Patricia Board starts the training on the first day a staffer comes in. She gives the newcomer a check-off list of both job and office basics and spends several … [Read more...] about In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Medical office managers are often so focused on the day-to-day that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. That big picture is profitability—because, without it, the practice will not remain in business. Although profitability isn't rocket science—after all, only rocket science is rocket science—it does require attention to detail, or what Medical Office Manager … [Read more...] about 6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Employee handbook compliance 101
An employee handbook is a living, active guide that your medical practice looks to and points to when your employees have questions about their employment. It is also a vital document that backs you up when you are making your management decisions. And most importantly, on the legal side, a properly crafted employee handbook is a litigation-avoidance tool, according to Paul … [Read more...] about Employee handbook compliance 101
Resolving employee conflict
Q: Two members of my staff don't get along with each other—at all. The constant bickering and other childish behavior have me at my wit's end. Sometimes I feel like I'm an elementary school teacher as opposed to a manager. This isn't what I signed on for, and it's really affecting my attitude toward the job. Any suggestions you can offer will be appreciated. A: Employee … [Read more...] about Resolving employee conflict
7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Properly terminating an employee to minimize the chances of repercussions starts with gathering all the facts and considering all the factors, says HR attorney Chris Lessard, J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions. Here are his recommendations on how to do that, in seven steps. Step 1: Separate the relevant from the irrelevant Your first step involves reviewing … [Read more...] about 7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
If you ever need to terminate an employee, one of the best tools you can have is an employee handbook that sets out clear policies and is kept up-to-date with changes in employment laws, says Chris Lessard, a California attorney who specializes in HR issues. Lessard, who is J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions, says employee handbooks can protect medical practice … [Read more...] about Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
How to handle the 4 most common types of “disconnected” staffers
Why don't those staffers perform the way the manager wants them to perform? To a great extent it's because there's no connection between the staffer and the job. For an employee to do well, there have to be three connectors. They are: fit (or intellectual connection) passion (or emotional connection); and ownership (a sense of having enough importance to think and act like an … [Read more...] about How to handle the 4 most common types of “disconnected” staffers
Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Good interviewing requires resume evaluation and a bit of psychology, says office manager Scott Ford of Dixie Primary Care in St. George, UT. It's not just what candidates say but how they say it. And Ford should know. He is a licensed clinical social worker, and as manager, he applies his skills in therapy and counseling to interviewing. Look for other clues Beyond the … [Read more...] about Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers