Ergonomics is good economics. When the work areas are in sync with the people spending their days in them, there's no time lost to sick days and no money lost to low productivity, says Hayley Kaye, a certified professional ergonomist with HLK Consulting in New York City. Achieving that calls for attention to the desks, telephones, and chairs. But it also calls for teaching … [Read more...] about These 7 ergonomic basics can make your staff healthier and happier
Managing the office
Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
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?
What? Not another upgrade!
How to ensure a smooth transition when you upgrade your EMR software or install a new system Just when everyone is trained and comfortable with your EMR system, along comes an upgrade. Keeping up with the demands of meaningful use and changing regulations has software vendors sending out upgrades with alarming frequency. This means that you may be spending far more time and … [Read more...] about What? Not another upgrade!
Asking for a raise
One of the most frequently asked career questions is, "What is the best way to ask for a raise?" Not surprising, a frequently asked management question is, "What are best practices when it comes to employees asking for a raise?" Answers to these two questions actually have a lot of overlap. Think about the times staff members approached you for a raise. When did they make a … [Read more...] about Asking for a raise
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
In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
No manager can set expectations without giving staff the tools to achieve them, says a California administrator. And the main tool for it all is never ending training. At Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group, Patricia Board starts the training on the first day a staffer comes in. She gives the newcomer a check-off list of both job and office basics and spends several … [Read more...] about In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
Do you make this costly interviewing mistake?
Don't focus a job interview on whether the candidate can do the job. The purpose of an interview is not to evaluate hard skills or job experience or training. Anybody who makes it to the interview already meets the requirements. Look instead for the behaviors of the person. The interview is the time to find out the motivators, the personality, and the soft skills of self … [Read more...] about Do you make this costly interviewing mistake?
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?
The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work
Happy Administrative Professionals Week! What have you got planned to acknowledge your hard-working support staff? If you've decided to do nothing this year, you may want to rethink that. According to a survey conducted by staffing firm OfficeTeam, two-thirds (66 percent) of workers surveyed said they'd likely leave their job if they didn't feel appreciated. In contrast, just … [Read more...] about The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work
Quick tips to deliver useful, easy-to-use financial reporting
To succeed, the office needs financial reports. And it is the manager's responsibility to see that the doctors pay attention to those reports, that they understand them, and that they take action to keep the numbers on the right track. Thus, it is not just the reports but how they are drawn up and how they are presented that makes the difference. Every day is best … [Read more...] about Quick tips to deliver useful, easy-to-use financial reporting