More physicians are going mobile, and iPhones and iPads are the devices of choice, with more than 68 percent of doctors preferring Apple technology over Android. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 59.3 percent of all primary care physicians' daily emails are for the interpretation of test results, while 21.7 percent are responses to … [Read more...] about Mobile usage on the rise at medical practices, emphasis now on safeguards
Risk management
Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most
By Steve M. Cohen bio I recently spoke with two different clients who were planning to terminate entry-level, relatively "inexpensive" people. I asked them what they meant, and each client indicated that the employee's annual salary was around $40,000. When I asked if they wanted my help structuring the exit of these two, they both considered that my services were … [Read more...] about Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most
If you have to terminate, do it right
By Steve M. Cohen bio Terminating an employee is not easy, but with a few missteps or bad luck, it can become a disaster. Workplace disruptions, lawsuits, and even violence can be byproducts of poorly executed terminations. Most business owners and managers move to dismiss employees for good reason, but the process is so full of potential for bad results that it deserves … [Read more...] about If you have to terminate, do it right
Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps
Beware. The government has stepped up its efforts to protect employee rights. Two areas of particular interest to medical offices are disability discrimination and retaliation against protected activities such as discussing wages and work conditions. The agencies involved are the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the National Labor … [Read more...] about Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps
Avoid these 5 common but costly wage and hour violations
What is the most significant – and also uninsured – risk every employer lives with? Wage and hour litigation. That's the one employment law area that EPLI, employment practices liability insurance, will not cover, says attorney Joseph M. Sokolowski, who heads the wage and hour practice group of Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis. Most EPLI policies specifically exclude … [Read more...] about Avoid these 5 common but costly wage and hour violations
How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office
The OIG, Office of Inspector General, oversees Medicare and Medicaid enforcement and highlights areas of focus in its enforcement efforts in a Work Plan. The 2014 Work Plan was released at the end of January and contains some items of note for medical practices. Some items are new and others have been on the OIG Work Plan in prior years and are a continuing project. The … [Read more...] about How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office
Can you and should you use Facebook to screen job applicants?
"We don't think employers should be asking prospective employees to provide their Facebook passwords (for pre-hiring background checking) because we don't think it's the right thing to do." -- Facebook (statement on company's website) Facebook's statement has set off a firestorm of controversy and misinformation. The popular consensus seems to be that the employer's practice … [Read more...] about Can you and should you use Facebook to screen job applicants?
Avoid these 3 deadly employment law traps when hiring or firing
Three errors that cause wrongful terminations Though every employer knows - or should know - the rules for safe firing, mistakes still happen when it comes to showing an employee the door, says Peter Golden, a business and employment law attorney with The Golden Law Firm in Atlanta. In his own practice, he finds that in all types of businesses, manages most often fall down on … [Read more...] about Avoid these 3 deadly employment law traps when hiring or firing
Government issues NEW resources to help ensure safety of electronic health records
Continuing to encourage the use of electronic health records, on January 15, 2014, HHS issued new resources to help providers address Electronic Health Record safety. HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guides. These SAFER Guides are tools such as checklists and … [Read more...] about Government issues NEW resources to help ensure safety of electronic health records
HIPAA resources and guidance
Complying with HIPAA’s privacy and security requirements can be complex and overwhelming. But the Department of Health and Human Services does provide some helpful guidance. Here’s a list of resources we found that might help you understand what’s required and plan your security programs: 1. HHS Security Rule … [Read more...] about HIPAA resources and guidance