As the office manager of a medical practice, you have an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a valuable contribution. "You really get the chance to be a part of a small business and to wear a lot of different hats," says Mary Pat Whaley, co-founder and president of Manage My Practice, a medical practice consulting firm. What's more, because most physicians are not business … [Read more...] about Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
Managing patients
Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
Meeting every week with the doctors makes a tremendous difference in how smoothly – and also how successfully – an office operates, says the manager of a pediatrics practice in Colorado. For her office, it's an 8 a.m. meeting every Monday, a good time, because it sets the tone for the week. It also keeps everybody on the same page. And it ensures that the doctors know all the … [Read more...] about Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
What is the ‘patient experience’ like at your medical practice?
You may have come across the term, "patient experience" lately and assumed it is equivalent to "customer experience" in other industries. Although there are similarities between the two terms, there are also major differences. Everything that happens in a customer experience is applicable to the patient experience, says Jason Wolf, president of The Beryl Institute, a global … [Read more...] about What is the ‘patient experience’ like at your medical practice?
6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Medical office managers are often so focused on the day-to-day that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. That big picture is profitability—because, without it, the practice will not remain in business. Although profitability isn't rocket science—after all, only rocket science is rocket science—it does require attention to detail, or what Medical Office Manager … [Read more...] about 6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
8 steps to quickly and (almost) painlessly creating an employee handbook tailored to your medical office
Writing an employee handbook from scratch can be a daunting task. Where do you start? What do you include? And how are you going to find time to write the thing? It's tempting to set the job aside and wait until work slows down a bit. Of course if you wait for the perfect time to write, it's unlikely that you will actually do it at all. So we're here to help you get the project … [Read more...] about 8 steps to quickly and (almost) painlessly creating an employee handbook tailored to your medical office
Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
By Cheyenne Brinson, MBA, CPA bio The front office is the face of the practice, the first impression for the patient, and the beginning of the revenue cycle. They are tasked with multiple assignments, competing priorities, and a sense of urgency from everyone, yet asked to do it all with a smile. Here are five tips to boost efficiency for the front office. … [Read more...] about Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
Get personal to get patients to pay faster
Set the expectation of payment before the patient comes in. When the office calls to confirm an appointment, whether it's a live conversation or an automated message, say, "Your co-pay is due when you check in." In other words, "bring your wallet." Some offices go so far as to refuse people who don't have the co-pay at the time of the visit. However, such a strict policy … [Read more...] about Get personal to get patients to pay faster
Office hours change draws more working patients
A change from traditional office hours has proved popular with patients, staff, and physicians at a family practice in Tifton, GA. It can be difficult for people to get time off work to visit the doctor, and too many such absences can even endanger their jobs. So practice administrator Christy Blanchett of Family Practice Associates came up with a schedule to accommodate … [Read more...] about Office hours change draws more working patients
When you’re about to lose patience with a patient
Working with the public isn't easy. And working in a medical office, where people are often at their worst, can be especially trying. Be that as it may, your role as a medical office manager demands professionalism at all times, even when a patient has pushed you to the limit of your patience. Remember this It sounds like a given, but it helps to remind yourself that the … [Read more...] about When you’re about to lose patience with a patient
Is your waiting room costing you money?
How would patients rate your medical practice's reception area? Is it cold and clinical, or warm and welcoming? The waiting room is where new patients form early impressions of your practice – and, like it or not, these impressions influence their perception of the medical care they receive. Patient experience is a primary reason medical practices are investing in office … [Read more...] about Is your waiting room costing you money?