Dealing with difficult patients and resolving conflicts is an important part of working in a medical office. Sometimes, patients might be upset, anxious, or frustrated, and it's crucial to handle these situations calmly and professionally. Here are some tips and examples on how to manage these challenges effectively. First, it's important to listen carefully. When a patient … [Read more...] about How to deal with difficult patients and resolve conflicts
Working with physicians
CODING ALERT: Watch for ICD-10-CM and CPT Changes for 2025
For 2025, medical coding changes in ICD-10-CM and CPT codes are set to reflect more precise diagnostic details and updated guidelines across various medical conditions. Some of the key updates include: Mental Health: New ICD-10-CM codes will expand the classification of eating disorders, differentiating severity levels (mild, moderate, severe) and adding specific … [Read more...] about CODING ALERT: Watch for ICD-10-CM and CPT Changes for 2025
Promote Your Practice with a Doc Blog
Helping a physician create a blog can enhance patient engagement, boost the practice’s visibility, and establish the doctor as a thought leader in their field. As a medical office manager, your support can streamline the process and help the blog run smoothly. Here’s how you can effectively assist: 1. Define the Purpose of the Blog Start by working with the physician to … [Read more...] about Promote Your Practice with a Doc Blog
Winning at Office Politics
By Lynne Curry Question: I lost another opportunity this week, one on which I had my heart set. It involved working on a strategic team with individuals pulled from all areas of the company to develop key initiatives for our future. I had so many ideas of exciting directions we could take that I’m heartsick I lost out. The woman that corporate management selected from … [Read more...] about Winning at Office Politics
How to Streamline the Hiring Process with Technology
Recruiting the right people is essential to maintaining a successful and efficient medical office. However, traditional hiring processes often involve time-consuming steps that can leave both managers and candidates feeling frustrated. In today’s fast-paced environment, utilizing technology to streamline hiring can make your process faster, more organized, and more engaging for … [Read more...] about How to Streamline the Hiring Process with Technology
15 questions to ask physicians as a new medical office manager
Stepping into your new role as a medical office manager is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important aspects of your job is building strong relationships with the physicians in the practice. Getting on the same page with the doctors will help you manage the office more effectively and create a smoother, more efficient work environment. … [Read more...] about 15 questions to ask physicians as a new medical office manager
Here’s a simple sample cancellation policy
Last-minute cancellations can turn an orderly day at the office into chaos as you scramble to reach patients to fill unexpected openings in the schedule. Unfilled appointment slots are costly in terms of clinician time, staff time and office overhead. That's why you need to have an appointment cancellation policy and convey it to your patients. Here's a short and simple … [Read more...] about Here’s a simple sample cancellation policy
8 proven ways to totally destroy your credibility as a manager
A manager can have great knowledge and great skills, but without credibility with both doctors and staff, don't expect success. What is credibility? It can be defined as "what we do and how we do it that causes others to respect and believe us." The "what-we-do" is the tangible things – the work and its results. The "how-we-do-it" is the behavior that demonstrates a person's … [Read more...] about 8 proven ways to totally destroy your credibility as a manager
Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for staff retention
Staff retention is not only a cost-effective strategy, but it also helps maintain institutional knowledge and ensures a smoother transition when team members retire. One innovative approach that can facilitate this transition and keep experienced staff on board is “flex-retirement.” What Is Flex-Retirement? Flex-retirement, also known as flexible retirement, is a workplace … [Read more...] about Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for staff retention
Physicians behaving badly: what to do when it affects patients
Poor physician behavior. It can run the gamut from rudeness to actions that invite malpractice claims. When does it cross the line from unpleasant to necessitating action from the practice? The answer is when it impacts the patient or has potential legal significance. And sometimes it does both. Patient losses, court losses The first concern is the patients. Whenever a … [Read more...] about Physicians behaving badly: what to do when it affects patients