Whether the manager is speaking to a group, to the doctors, or to a new patient, looks count, says image consultant Sandy Dumont of The Image Architect in Norfolk, VA. And Dumont backs up her assertion with research – limited research, but research nonetheless. She recently sat in a courtroom "for hours predicting which attorneys would win based on how they looked." And each … [Read more...] about ‘Dressing for success’ at the office counts far more than you think
General
How one manager makes mandatory staff training fun
Staff need not respond with groans when you say the word "training," even if that training is complicated. Leigh Payne, RN, manager of Good Shepherd Medical Group Pediatrics in Hermiston, OR, has found a way to actually get staff enthusiastic about mandatory training. Good Shepherd Medical Group operates a family practice and specialties clinic in a growing rural town in … [Read more...] about How one manager makes mandatory staff training fun
5 things you should never say to your staffers
Without realizing it, a manager can create conflict. It comes from the way staff's interruptions, questions, and suggestions get handled. Here are five automatic and all too common bad responses. 1 "I don't have time for that now" A staffer comes in with a question, the manager is in the middle of work, and the response is "not now" or "can't you take care of that … [Read more...] about 5 things you should never say to your staffers
How to make firing easier on everyone
The termination process is difficult for a manager, as well as the staffer being fired. These three steps won't alleviate all the pain, but they will make the process easier for all concerned. 1 Do it Friday While some human resources experts say firing is best done in the middle of the week, most recommend doing it on Friday afternoon. This time is best for the office because … [Read more...] about How to make firing easier on everyone
Spreadsheets track everything from payers to subscriptions
The manager of a surgical medical office in Maine tracks both the big and the not-so-big elements of office management on spreadsheets. The spreadsheets show past numbers, current numbers, credentialing deadlines, and even when subscription renewals are coming up. And the result is that all the files are in one place and all the information is always readily available. The … [Read more...] about Spreadsheets track everything from payers to subscriptions
Managing the blamer, the crier, and the poor listener
Here are three all too common management problems along with their solutions. They are outlined by Stewart L. Levine, an Oakland, CA, attorney who is also a consultant and trainer in conflict resolution. It's not my fault! Addressing poor performance with the staffer who blames everybody else for it. "Like a good lawyer, be ready to prove the case," Levine says. Come in … [Read more...] about Managing the blamer, the crier, and the poor listener
Just promoted to office manager? Follow these 9 critical rules to avoid problems managing former friends and colleagues
Getting promoted to office manager can be a mixed blessing. As a former staffer, the new manager comes into the job knowing the good performers, the bad performers, the shortcuts, the troublemakers—and a few secrets. But the former peers also know their new boss, including strengths, weaknesses, and what buttons to push. Along with that, they are wondering how their … [Read more...] about Just promoted to office manager? Follow these 9 critical rules to avoid problems managing former friends and colleagues
Finding and keeping nurses
By Gayle Norton bio The shortage of qualified nurses in many parts of the country poses hiring issues, especially for medical practices outside of metropolitan areas or those competing for talent with hospitals and/or other institutions such as assisted living facilities. In addition to an increasingly shallow pool of candidates, there is also a growing nursing skills … [Read more...] about Finding and keeping nurses
Follow these 5 rules when delegating responsibility to your staff
Being a successful medical office manager calls for an investment. It is the investment of time and patience to train staff to take on delegated tasks and do the work satisfactorily. The payoff is big. Besides ending the frustration of having to do much of the busy work, it allows the manager to excel in managing the office. It is the key to professional productivity and … [Read more...] about Follow these 5 rules when delegating responsibility to your staff
For a Colorado clinic, telecommuting fills the gap in long-term absences
A large Colorado clinic has started allowing staff to work from home. But unlike most employers, it doesn't view telecommuting as a way to reduce overhead. Instead, the clinic uses it to accommodate staffers who would otherwise have to take extended time off. And it's picky about who can take advantage of it. The clinic introduced telecommuting after one staffer's child became … [Read more...] about For a Colorado clinic, telecommuting fills the gap in long-term absences