Ideally, you want medical office staff members to work only for the practice. This ensures that the job—the job they are doing for you—is their primary focus. Unfortunately, this expectation might not be realistic. Following the moon There are a number of reasons employees moonlight. The most common reason is money. Working a second job may be a necessity, especially for … [Read more...] about Should your medical office have a moonlighting policy?
Productivity
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?
3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace
By Lynne Curry bio The conversation stops when you walk into the break room. Two employees look at each other, mouth "later," and head back to their desks. An hour later, you see another employee dart into the restroom and come out five minutes later with reddened eyes. You ask her "what's up?" and when she looks like she might burst into tears, you usher her … [Read more...] about 3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace
How to end the jealousy when a sharp newcomer threatens longtimers
A tenet of management is "people require care." And nowhere is that more evident than in the situation where a bright-eyed, eager, and well-qualified new staffer comes in and threatens the long-term staffers. The cure is recognition, says Venus Opal Reese, PhD, of Creation Consulting Practice, a firm specializing in professional and business development. And it has to come … [Read more...] about How to end the jealousy when a sharp newcomer threatens longtimers
6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Medical office managers are often so focused on the day-to-day that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. That big picture is profitability—because, without it, the practice will not remain in business. Although profitability isn't rocket science—after all, only rocket science is rocket science—it does require attention to detail, or what Medical Office Manager … [Read more...] about 6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
By Cheyenne Brinson, MBA, CPA bio The front office is the face of the practice, the first impression for the patient, and the beginning of the revenue cycle. They are tasked with multiple assignments, competing priorities, and a sense of urgency from everyone, yet asked to do it all with a smile. Here are five tips to boost efficiency for the front office. … [Read more...] about Five tips to boost efficiency for the front office
Top 5 digital tools to increase medical practice efficiency in 2019
By Lisa A. Eramo, MA bio Busy practice managers are constantly searching for ways to increase efficiency. Sometimes it feels like an unattainable goal. Just when you begin to streamline a process, another challenge arises, and you're immediately drowning in backlogged claims and increased patient wait times yet again. The good news is that practices can leverage a variety of … [Read more...] about Top 5 digital tools to increase medical practice efficiency in 2019
Austin practice showers staff with appreciation
As a busy practice administrator at Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, TX, Sangita Lakhia has a difficult time keeping track of the "special days" – admin assistants week, nurses day, sleep tech day, surgical tech week, and so forth. "I also felt bad giving a gift or breakfast to just one department and not others," she tells Medical Office Manager. So Lakhia decided to drop … [Read more...] about Austin practice showers staff with appreciation
5 efficiency-draining traps to avoid in your practice
By Karen Mattocks, Vice President of Business Development at RxVantage bio It is a practice manager's worst nightmare. You arrive at work one morning and suddenly realize you no longer have a grip on operational efficiency. Patient wait times are at an all-time high, physicians continue to complain about the electronic health record (EHR), unbilled claims pile up … [Read more...] about 5 efficiency-draining traps to avoid in your practice
What to do when the winter blues hits your workplace
Winter gets a frigid reception at many workplaces around the country. According to research from staffing firm Accountemps, 38% of professionals said winter weather has a negative impact on their mood at work. About one-quarter (26%) cited January as the least happy month. Employees in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland felt bluest in the wintertime. In contrast, professionals … [Read more...] about What to do when the winter blues hits your workplace