Medical Office Manager

Managing staff

Staff work as a financial team and increase the up-front payments

With all its staff – front desk, billing, and clinical – working as a financial team, a North Little Rock, AR, surgery practice has increased its pre-surgery payments by 25 percent. “It’s not rocket science,” says Linda Atkins, manager of Neurological Surgery Associates. “It’s just common-sense things.” Every staffer “looks at the money picture” and has a role in it, she says, … [Read more...] about Staff work as a financial team and increase the up-front payments

Dealing with the cell phone abusers, the smokers, and the too-jolly staffer

Here are three people questions. They cover the cell phone and Internet users, the smokers, and the staffer who wastes time entertaining everybody. They are answered by Jonna Contacos-Sawyer, SPHR, CCP, CMC, president and consulting principal of HR Consultants, a management and human resources firm in Johnstown, PA. • What’s the most effective way to limit personal use of … [Read more...] about Dealing with the cell phone abusers, the smokers, and the too-jolly staffer

What every office manager needs to know about ‘at-will’ employment

What does at-will employment mean? It means that either the employer or the employee can end the relationship at any time and for any reason or for no reason at all – unless there is a contract for a term of employment. So why should a manager be concerned about that? Because most states say yes, there can be an implied contract of employment and no, that contract doesn't … [Read more...] about What every office manager needs to know about ‘at-will’ employment

Want to keep valued employees? Conduct a stay interview

By Lynne Curry  bio If you've ever been blindsided by a valuable employee's resignation and conducted an exit interview, you may have asked the right questions six months too late. Exit interviews detail why employees leave your organization. In contrast, stay interviews—rarely done—provide a valuable tool for retaining valued employees. What's a stay … [Read more...] about Want to keep valued employees? Conduct a stay interview

Model Policy: Moonlighting

Why you need this policy: Employees may hold other jobs that have the potential to interfere with their work at the practice. How this policy helps you: This policy reminds employees about their responsibility to the practice. How to use this policy: Modify this policy for your medical practice, as needed. Note: In some states it is illegal to prohibit moonlighting—and in … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Moonlighting

How to stop being a ‘hit and run’ supervisor

By Lynne Curry  bio How many times have you left the scene of a hit and run employee accident? Have you dented any employee fenders this month? What did it cost you? When hit and run supervisors spot problem situations, they race to the scene, take fast action and speed away, not realizing they may have left one or more employee casualties in their wake. If you're … [Read more...] about How to stop being a ‘hit and run’ supervisor

Avoid these 3 deadly age discrimination traps

Age discrimination has become today's big employment law issue. And it's because people live longer than in the recent past and also work longer. Some work longer by choice; others have seen their retirement funds obliterated and are forced to continue working. It's yet another danger spot managers need to watch. Older job applicants and employees have strong protection under … [Read more...] about Avoid these 3 deadly age discrimination traps

How to help a grieving employee

By Lynne Curry  bio How do you, as a manager, best help an employee who loses a loved one? This is one hot potato that few medical office managers feel equipped to handle. When tragedy befalls an employee, most of us don't know what to say. As a result, we often say nothing. This creates a complete disconnect between the individual for whom everything has changed … [Read more...] about How to help a grieving employee