Approximately 8 million foreign-born Americans say they speak English "not well." Additionally, approximately 4 million foreign-born Americans cannot speak English at all. These figures, from a study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, means there are 12 million people, which is about 30 percent of the foreign-born American population, who have difficulty communicating in … [Read more...] about Should your practice enlist the services of a medical interpreter?
Compliance
With the right effort, even difficult employee issues can be solved
By Steve M. Cohen bio An employee who had been terminated from one of my client organizations later called the whistleblower/action hotline. She was using the hotline in an attempt to retrieve her job or, at least, to vent her anger and frustration at the situation. I listened and discovered that she had been terminated for frequent violations of the office dress … [Read more...] about With the right effort, even difficult employee issues can be solved
4 steps to take now so your practice is ready for ICD-10
By Judy Monestime bio Now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has confirmed October 1, 2015 as the go-live date for ICD-10, providers must focus on making their ICD-10 implementation strategy a top priority. The vast majority of healthcare providers expect to encounter a wide range of barriers to the ICD-10 implementation within the first six … [Read more...] about 4 steps to take now so your practice is ready for ICD-10
Culture, psychology complicate many office issues
By Steve M. Cohen bio You are probably tired of hearing about it, but some people never seem to understand that sexual harassment is not OK. "No" really does mean "no," and the workplace is not a singles bar. Sexual harassment can also be a form of bullying or predatory behavior. Regardless, sexual harassment is not acceptable and organizations that fail to deal … [Read more...] about Culture, psychology complicate many office issues
5 HR issues to review and keep on your radar
A medical office manager has a wide range of responsibilities, which can make it difficult to keep every potential staff-related issue top of mind. Nevertheless, there are five HR issues about which you should remain vigilant. 1 Discrimination Here are various types of discrimination, as identified and defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Note: … [Read more...] about 5 HR issues to review and keep on your radar
Model Policy: Jewelry and tattoos
Why you need this model policy: This model jewelry and tattoos policy establishes guidelines for staff wearing jewelry or displaying tattoos. How this model policy helps you: This policy recognizes the value of personal self expression and establishes parameters for when personal appearance enhanced by jewelry or tattoos exceeds appropriate and reasonable workplace … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Jewelry and tattoos
Your office’s social media policy: dangerous if not done right
By Paul Edwards bio Many medical practices don't realize their social media policy is a crisis waiting to happen. In three recent, real-life cases, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found employers' actions to be unlawful when they disciplined or terminated employees who did the following: Employee A: Used a social media account to accuse the … [Read more...] about Your office’s social media policy: dangerous if not done right
How to choose the electronic medical records vendor that’s right for you
Choosing the right electronic medical records vendor for your practice can seem like an overwhelming task—and getting it right is crucial. Before any other considerations, you want to be sure than any vendor you are considering is HITECH certified for 2014, so that you can achieve meaningful use stages one and two. This will also ensure HIPAA compliance. Beyond that the options … [Read more...] about How to choose the electronic medical records vendor that’s right for you
Grief in termination is real
By Steve M. Cohen bio Unfortunately, you sometimes have to terminate someone. It's also unfortunate that this sometimes doesn't go well. That results in significant stress and related problems on both sides. Fortunately, an awareness of the emotional impact of termination can help you work with the soon-to-be terminated employee to make parting, and any … [Read more...] about Grief in termination is real
When to call an HR expert for help
As a medical office manager, you typically handle day-to-day human resources responsibilities and likely feel comfortable in this role, at least most of the time. Yet, there are times when expert assistance would be welcomed or even seems required. The question is: How do you know when you need the help of an expert? Going it alone Among the various HR responsibilities, several … [Read more...] about When to call an HR expert for help