By Dale Henry bio OK, I'll admit it. I am a sci-fi junkie. I love all the action and far-reaching technology of a good science fiction feature. I am a child of the '60s and "Star Trek" was my favorite. I remember that all of the Enterprise's doors opened automatically. (When I was growing up, that had not been invented yet.) Everyone talked on tricorders and communicated … [Read more...] about Curing the common code: 4 small shifts will help you move in a positive direction
Managing the office
Concierge medicine – coming on strong
– a MOM mini seminar – Direct care, boutique medicine, retainer medicine – by whatever name, concierge medicine is a patient-physician arrangement where the patient pays an annual fee or retainer, the physician reduces the patient population from several thousand to an average of 300 to 600, and patients get personal 24-hour access to the physician and, … [Read more...] about Concierge medicine – coming on strong
Virginia manager uses contests to help turn staff into a team
A new manager set building staff teamwork as her first goal. And she decided that the best way to reach that goal was to make it fun. So she set up contests that require the staff to work and think together and come up with ideas that will benefit the office. The neurological practice in Virginia has eight physicians and 36 staff. The first contest was held in a restaurant … [Read more...] about Virginia manager uses contests to help turn staff into a team
Top 10 cities with happiest medical practice patients
Did you make the list? Patients in San Francisco and Oakland appear to be happiest with their doctors, while the least satisfied American health care consumers live in other California cities as well as in New York State locales. This is according to an in-depth evaluation of the ever-contentious online reviews that many physicians denounce. In a nationwide study, Denver-based … [Read more...] about Top 10 cities with happiest medical practice patients
CMS proposes new deadline for “meaningful use” reporting compliance
Recently, Medical Office Manager told you about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic health records (EHRs) incentive programs and meaningful use requirements. Now, CMS has released a proposed rule that would alter the timeline for meaningful use reporting. Washington, DC, health care attorney at Alston & Bird, Paula Stannard, a former Health and … [Read more...] about CMS proposes new deadline for “meaningful use” reporting compliance
3 technologies that improve patient collections
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio "Don't worry, you don't need to pay us today…we'll bill you after insurance pays." This is music to patients' ears. It means they can receive services, treatments, and/or tests in your office, and leave without paying for them. Months later when the bill arrives, it will be easy for them to set it aside. Because (probably) no one is going to call and … [Read more...] about 3 technologies that improve patient collections
New York OB/GYN practice discovers 2 astonishingly easy ways to pull in more patients
A one-physician OB/GYN practice that opened in the last decade reached its patient census goals almost immediately using nothing but common-sense marketing. It became so busy, in fact, that it is now open an additional two nights a week plus Saturday mornings. The marketing has focused on two elements. First is no waiting. “We’ve had patients transfer here just because they … [Read more...] about New York OB/GYN practice discovers 2 astonishingly easy ways to pull in more patients
Get ready now for critical ICD-10 deadline
ICD-10 takes effect October 1, 2015, which doesn’t leave much time to prepare – especially when you consider the dramatic impact the new code sets will have on medical offices from the standpoint of staffing, training, and, perhaps most significant of all, financial management. Many physician practices have not started down the ICD-10 path, says Ira Shapiro, CEO of The … [Read more...] about Get ready now for critical ICD-10 deadline
Editor watches staggering changes in medical office management
By Susan Crawford Founding Editor Dear Readers: Medical Office Manager’s first issue came out in November 1987. And now after 26 years as your editor, I have retired. This is a good time to look at the issues and conundrums you as manager have faced during all that time and to congratulate you on a job well done. The changes have been staggering. You have kept up with them … [Read more...] about Editor watches staggering changes in medical office management
Keep safe from the Recovery Audit Contractors and the courts by making the corrections correctly
What flaws are the Recovery Audit Contractors searching for in records? Illegible documentation, incomplete documentation, unidentified providers, wrong dates of service – and evidence of improper corrections. To help offices stay safe, the government has set out guides for making corrections so the records pass muster with the RACs. Those same guides will also ensure the … [Read more...] about Keep safe from the Recovery Audit Contractors and the courts by making the corrections correctly