The death of a physician or staff member can be difficult for a practice. The loss has an emotional impact on the people who worked with the individual, and the person's passing leaves an obvious void. It also results in numerous practical issues the office manager must address. But a death by suicide takes loss to an entirely different level. And when a physician commits … [Read more...] about When a physician commits suicide
Working with physicians
Checking your smartphone can be a real pain in the neck—and back
A modern affliction has osteopathic physicians prescribing the selfie stance to patients checking their devices: keep your head up and hold the phone straight out. Tilting the head forward 60 degrees can put up to 60 pounds of pressure on the neck, according to Stacey Pierce-Talsma, DO, chair of osteopathic manipulative medicine at Touro University California. Tech neck, a … [Read more...] about Checking your smartphone can be a real pain in the neck—and back
Protecting your employees from workplace violence
By Lynne Curry bio On June 5, 2017, John Neumann Jr. brought a semiautomatic pistol and a hunting knife into his former workplace. He killed five people before turning his gun against himself. It's become chillingly commonplace for us to learn that a terminated employee has stormed into his former workplace and killed those he holds accountable. Each time, the rest … [Read more...] about Protecting your employees from workplace violence
Telephone, email, v-mail, meeting new colleagues: how to look like a pro
In the professional world, proper communication counts big. Any manager or physician who wants to rise above the competition has to know communication etiquette, says Canadian etiquette consultant Jay Remer of St. Andrews, New Brunswick. People expect every doctor to know medicine. How they choose a doctor depends on whether they connect with the individual. And what makes the … [Read more...] about Telephone, email, v-mail, meeting new colleagues: how to look like a pro
Why taking your vacation is worth the hassle
If you can't remember the last time you took a vacation, you're not alone. While American workers are stressed, they're not taking time away from work. According to a survey conducted online earlier this year by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder, 3 in 5 workers (61 percent) say they are burned out in their current job, and 31 percent report high or extremely high levels of … [Read more...] about Why taking your vacation is worth the hassle
Why your best talent is leaving and four ways to win them back
By William A. Schiemann, Ph.D bio Most leaders of companies today recognize the importance of having engaged people at work. Yet research from the Metrus Institute, Gallup, and others say that between 50 and 80% are not fully engaged. For many organizations, a majority of employees are only partially engaged, which a lot of research has shown reduces performance and … [Read more...] about Why your best talent is leaving and four ways to win them back
Pain clinic agrees to pay $1.78 million to settle whistleblower lawsuit
Ross Feller Casey, LLP, recently announced that the Atlantic Spine & Joint Institute and its owners, Robert C. McGrath, Sr., D.O., and Robert C. McGrath, Jr., have agreed to pay $1.78 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging they billed Medicare for procedures that were not medically necessary or were not actually performed. The father and son also pleaded guilty … [Read more...] about Pain clinic agrees to pay $1.78 million to settle whistleblower lawsuit
3 mistakes that cause medical practice change initiatives to fail
By Nick Hernandez bio Good is rarely good enough, and opportunities for improvement are never lacking. Unfortunately, the success rate of major change initiatives in medical practices is often low due to poor management of the change. Physician leaders and practice managers should expect and accept disruption and resistance to change, and never lose sight of the fact that … [Read more...] about 3 mistakes that cause medical practice change initiatives to fail
How to make a mistake, survive the fallout, and keep the job
A mistake happens. It's serious. It's the manager's fault. Is it survivable? The best of managers make some of the worst mistakes, says Donna Flagg of the Krysalis Group, a New York management, marketing, sales, and training consulting firm. Flagg is also author of "Surviving Dreaded Conversations," a book on how to talk through unpleasant situations at work. Know how to … [Read more...] about How to make a mistake, survive the fallout, and keep the job
Personal vs. professional life: setting boundaries
"Boundary setting is really a huge part of time management," says world-renowned performance psychologist and author Jim Loehr. And, arguably, everyone needs to manage time, that precious commodity, in order to experience and enjoy life to the fullest. Yet, how do you set boundaries between your personal and professional life? In today's world of constant connectivity, is … [Read more...] about Personal vs. professional life: setting boundaries