Everyone knows handwashing reduces the transmission of illness. Why then is it so difficult to get staff to comply? Experts recommend four strategies to promote handwashing. 1. Make handwashing part of your practice's culture. 2. Make handwashing part of employee performance evaluation. 3. Make handwashing convenient. 4. Make handwashing pleasant. The importance of … [Read more...] about 4 proven ways to increase handwashing
Workplace Safety
How to deal with difficult patients and resolve conflicts
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
How to keep things cool as election nears
Navigating political discussions in the workplace can be challenging, especially during contentious times like a U.S. presidential election. As a manager, fostering an environment of respect and civility is essential to maintaining a positive workplace culture. Here are several strategies to help your staffers with differing political positions remain civil to one … [Read more...] about How to keep things cool as election nears
Recovering from hurricanes, floods and other weather disasters
As back-to-back hurricane disasters have affected a large swath of the Southeast, many medical practices are struggling to recover and resume operations. Recovering from a disaster caused by extreme weather events can be particularly challenging for medical offices, as it directly impacts patient care and staff safety. Consider these guidelines for preparing for and recovering … [Read more...] about Recovering from hurricanes, floods and other weather disasters
Manager briefing: Extreme heat emergency protocols
Objective: To ensure the safety and well-being of staff and patients during extreme heat weather conditions through proactive planning, immediate response measures, and ongoing monitoring. Key Points Preparation Emergency Plan Review and update the office’s emergency plan to include specific protocols for extreme heat. Ensure all staff are familiar with the … [Read more...] about Manager briefing: Extreme heat emergency protocols
TOOL: Model Employee Illness/Injury Reporting Policy
The OSHA Recordkeeping Standard requires you to record and potentially report work-related illnesses and injuries. Reporting of illnesses and injuries is also crucial to investigating, identifying and correcting problems that can lead to further incidents and OSHA violations. So, it’s crucial to establish a policy and procedure for workers to report workplace injuries and … [Read more...] about TOOL: Model Employee Illness/Injury Reporting Policy
Office safety inspection checklist
The best checklist for your workplace is one that has been developed for your specific needs. The examples outlined below do not list all the possible items for office inspections. Whatever the format of the checklist, provide space for the inspectors’ signatures and the date. Inspectors: Date: (O) Satisfactory (X) Requires … [Read more...] about Office safety inspection checklist
COMPLIANCE: A 10-step compliance strategy for OSHA Recordkeeping Rules
January is the season when employers must compile their OSHA logs for the previous year. Here’s an overview of the OSHA Recordkeeping Standard and a 10-step strategy to ensure compliance. Step 1: Figure out if your office is covered Physician offices are among the industries listed by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as being partially exempt from the … [Read more...] about COMPLIANCE: A 10-step compliance strategy for OSHA Recordkeeping Rules
What, if anything, does OSHA require you to do to protect telecommuters?
While telecommuting is nothing new, the imperative for using it has never been greater. In addition to all the cost-saving, work-life balance, recruiting and hiring advantages, letting employees work from home during a pandemic has become a vital infection control measure. But it also poses significant compliance challenges, particularly in the realm of OSHA. After all, how are … [Read more...] about What, if anything, does OSHA require you to do to protect telecommuters?
To avoid a messy workplace theft investigation, can we just fire our prime suspect?
By Lynne Curry Question: Several years ago, when one of our employees was stealing from other employees’ purses and lockers, we called the police. The process — calling the police, alerting our insurance carrier and interviewing multiple employees to show fairness so we wouldn’t get sued for wrongful termination when we fired the one employee — tore apart our … [Read more...] about To avoid a messy workplace theft investigation, can we just fire our prime suspect?