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
Managing the office
Why your latest management decision failed
When making significant decisions, have you noticed how difficult it is to come to a rational decision, even with a mastery of facts and employing logical thinking? Have you noticed that at every step of the process, there are players who push back, so that even the most obvious decisions become tortured? What's going on here? Did you ignore the social space? According to … [Read more...] about Why your latest management decision failed
Medication errors associated with health information technology
Use of health information technology (HIT), such as computerized prescriber order entry systems and pharmacy information systems, can help prevent patient safety problems; however, if designed or implemented poorly, HIT can have significant adverse consequences for patient safety. HIT and medication-error events Between January 1 and June 30, 2016, Pennsylvania healthcare … [Read more...] about Medication errors associated with health information technology
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
8 Changes to the Trump Travel Ban
Although it applies to all industries, the Trump travel ban will have a disproportionate impact on health care providers. We recently outlined the major effects based on the first version of the executive order and even though the newly issued version looks like the original, there are a few key changes that you need to know about. Here's a quick rundown in the form of a … [Read more...] about 8 Changes to the Trump Travel Ban
Ready, Set, HIPAA Enforcement: 2017 is going to be a year to remember
By Danika Brinda bio HIPAA Data Breaches and HIPAA Enforcement were definitely off to the races in the first two months of 2017. While previous years have started slower and then gradually increased, 2017 proves to be on an advanced path. 2016 ended with a record year in HIPAA Data Breaches (329 Data Breaches greater than 500 Individuals) as well as HIPAA Enforcement … [Read more...] about Ready, Set, HIPAA Enforcement: 2017 is going to be a year to remember
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
Watch out for resume fraud
By Lynne Curry bio The new business manager you hired—the one with the terrific resume and reference? It turns out she never worked for the employers named on the resume or knew the supervisors listed as references—despite the glowing recommendations they wrote for her. Instead, she paid for a legitimate-appearing, completely phony resume and references. Fake … [Read more...] about Watch out for resume fraud
The heat is on: Six in 10 employees report increased work stress
Are your employees having trouble "keeping calm and carrying on" at work? If so, they're in the majority. More than half (52 percent) of workers said they are stressed at work on a day-to-day basis, and 60 percent reported work-related pressure has increased in the last five years, according to a new survey by staffing firm Accountemps. Their concerns are not lost on … [Read more...] about The heat is on: Six in 10 employees report increased work stress