Why you need this policy: Romantically involved employees can cause personnel and legal problems for your medical office. How this policy helps you: Protect your medical office from harm that can result when employees date their coworkers. How to use this policy: Read this policy to understand how it relates to your office. Insert the name of your company. … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Conflict of interest policy for romantically involved employees
Compliance
No matter the century, humans are still human
By Steve M. Cohen bio I'm often amused by people who talk about how we are now past problems that have plagued humanity for centuries. Now that we're well into the 21st century, they predict we can stop focusing so much on things like racism and sexual harassment. Certainly, some things are better today. As a group, we no longer accept certain behaviors, at least … [Read more...] about No matter the century, humans are still human
Get ready for HIPAA breach before it happens
HIPAA requires you have breach notification policies and procedures to ensure proper handling of a breach of unsecured protected health information (PHI). Do you have breach notification policies and procedures that comply with HIPAA, including the most recent changes that went into effect in 2013? Are you training your staff about how to handle suspected breaches? If not, you … [Read more...] about Get ready for HIPAA breach before it happens
What to do when a doctor harasses staffers but no one complains
Q: One of our doctors continuously makes inappropriate remarks to the staff. He thinks the remarks are funny. The staff don't complain, but what's said is obviously inappropriate. Everyone likes the doctor, and the other doctors want to keep him on staff. They have counseled him, but he continues. What should we do? A: No office can afford to turn a blind eye to sexual … [Read more...] about What to do when a doctor harasses staffers but no one complains
Battle for a safe workplace continues to evolve
By Steve M. Cohen bio In case anyone wondered, the battle to counter workplace harassment and violence is definitely intensifying. In 2005, a physician killed a nurse who he worked with at a hospital. It was later learned that the murder followed a long history of harassment by the doctor. Worse, the hospital management had known of these incidents. But at that … [Read more...] about Battle for a safe workplace continues to evolve
Are you unintentionally discriminating against staffers with family?
There's a fairly new area of discrimination to watch out for, and it applies to staff as well as to employee physicians. It's family responsibility discrimination, or discrimination against employees who take time off to serve as caregivers for family members. And related to that is discrimination against both women and men who take time off for maternity and child care. Family … [Read more...] about Are you unintentionally discriminating against staffers with family?
Missing the small things can cause big problems
By Steve M. Cohen bio Medical office managers have an unusually wide range of demands, and it's easy, even necessary to keep an eye on the big picture. But sometimes elements that aren't especially strategic can still have major ramifications. Here are a few areas that I've seen cause some big problems. • Lack of written directions and policies, or … [Read more...] about Missing the small things can cause big problems
Seasons change. So do laws and regulations
By Steve M. Cohen bio As fall turns to winter, it is a good time to examine other changes that impact us all. To me, it's clear that the legal and regulatory climate of our world is changing. Whether you manage a masonry firm or medical office, the changes are everywhere. But these transformations are not steady, like the movement of a glacier. They come in jerks and jolts … [Read more...] about Seasons change. So do laws and regulations
9 important dos and don’ts for using social media to promote your practice
Federal and state laws are implicated when a medical office decides to promote its services, whether through establishing a website for the medical office or participating in forums such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. This article focuses on the do's and don'ts arising from federal and state laws on advertising and privacy. 1 Do be truthful When a medical office establishes … [Read more...] about 9 important dos and don’ts for using social media to promote your practice
Good managers watch for bad behavior
By Steve M. Cohen bio I know that many office managers sometimes feel like a kindergarten teacher. Even with the best team, there's always one or two who rub each other the wrong way or seem to have more than their share of complaints, either complaints about what they do or say, or what others do or say to them. Ultimately, no one can promise you much more … [Read more...] about Good managers watch for bad behavior