Many employees like their bosses, but managers still have much work to do, according to new research from staffing firm Accountemps. Nearly two in three workers (64 percent) said they are happy with their supervisors, and another 29 percent are somewhat happy with their bosses. Only eight percent of workers give their manager a thumbs down. Yet, despite generally positive … [Read more...] about Survey: Most workers happy with managers but don’t want the role themselves
Managing the office
Office politics and how it damages your practice
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio Office politics can be a problem in any size medical office—from a company as large as 1,000+ to as little as a solo physician with two staff members. A definition "Office politics" is the use of networking within an organization to further one's own agenda. The word "networking" could easily be interchanged with the word "gossiping". … [Read more...] about Office politics and how it damages your practice
OIG celebrates 40 years of fighting fraud
October 15, 2016 marked 40 years since the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was launched in 1976. It is now the largest inspector general with 1,600 employees and 70 offices and oversees $1 trillion in spending. The HHS OIG is charged with fighting fraud, waste and abuse in federal health care programs—primarily Medicare … [Read more...] about OIG celebrates 40 years of fighting fraud
Final rule on MACRA released and it’s a pleasant surprise
By Tina Colangelo, MHA bio CMS has finally released its long and highly anticipated final rule MACRA Quality Payment Program. News spread like wildfire as the highly anticipated final rule of CMS's MACRA Quality Payment Program was rolled out. The 2,398 page document shows mercy to all physicians especially those in small practices! Everybody can breathe a sigh of relief; … [Read more...] about Final rule on MACRA released and it’s a pleasant surprise
Pop Quiz: Are you ready for the new FLSA overtime rules?
Effective December 1, 2016, the new FLSA (Fair Labor Standard's Act) overtime rules come into effect and the minimum salary level for non-exempt employees is increasing. What this means for medical practices is that some employees you currently have categorized as exempt might actually qualify for overtime pay. Under the new rules, to be categorized as exempt, employees must … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: Are you ready for the new FLSA overtime rules?
Decoding workplace personality conflicts
By Lynne Curry bio No one told you when you accepted a medical office manager job that your primary role would be that of peacemaker. You thought you'd be overseeing systems and finances; that the major hiccups you'd have to resolve would be ones involving computers and upset patients. Not even close. Instead, you put out people fires daily. The players There's … [Read more...] about Decoding workplace personality conflicts
Improper data removal and poor enforcement of data retention policies create the ‘perfect storm’ for data breaches
Data breaches, such as those that struck Sony Pictures in 2014 and Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca in 2016, are a daily reality and wreak havoc on organizations. And according to the Delete vs. Erase: How Companies Wipe Active Files study recently released by Blancco Technology Group, the use of improper data removal methods and the poor enforcement of data retention … [Read more...] about Improper data removal and poor enforcement of data retention policies create the ‘perfect storm’ for data breaches
Spending too much time, effort, and money on recruitment? Borrow from others’ ‘best practices’
By Carl Kutsmode bio Hiring top talent for your medical practice isn't easy. And, the bad news is that it won't get easier anytime soon. Just consider a few facts: The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the employment of staff physician assistants is projected to grow 30 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Roughly … [Read more...] about Spending too much time, effort, and money on recruitment? Borrow from others’ ‘best practices’
Keeping the records long enough… but not too long
Records retention raises questions in almost all offices. And as a result, offices tend to hang onto records far too long, says attorney and records management expert Donald S. Skupsky, JD, CRM. Skupsky is president and CEO of Information Requirements Clearinghouse in Denver, which provides consulting services as well as software and publications on the legal requirements of … [Read more...] about Keeping the records long enough… but not too long
How to disagree with your friends about politics and keep them too
In past elections, our front yards, t-shirts, car bumpers and water cooler conversations proudly campaigned for the presidential candidate of our choice. In 2016, most are afraid to utter the name of the person they plan to vote for on November 8. Research by Joseph Grenny and David Maxfield, cofounders of VitalSmarts and the authors of the business bestseller Crucial … [Read more...] about How to disagree with your friends about politics and keep them too