A medical office is filled with many different personalities and many different dynamics. And with those differences come office politics. And with the politics the manager can become a casualty. Here are the solutions to five situations where politics and personalities come into play. They are outlined by Margaret Hintz, SPHR, manager of HR services for Insperity, an … [Read more...] about 4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
Working with physicians
2 proven ways to build staff morale fast
What builds staff morale? Letting staff participate in the office's operations, getting their ideas, and using their suggestions are good for morale. And there are two ways to achieve these ends. One is to survey staff on their attitudes and opinions. The other is to set up a suggestion program. Simple as those may be, they work because people want to be listened to. They … [Read more...] about 2 proven ways to build staff morale fast
It’s not me, it’s you: 5 office policies to break up with
By Paul Edwards bio Springtime may mean that love is in the air, but your office can't hesitate to dump a policy that creates problems. Some policies are so blatantly unenforceable, they shouldn't even have gotten past the first date! If any of these are in your employee handbook, it's time to say, "Let's not even be friends anymore." #1: "Employee salaries are … [Read more...] about It’s not me, it’s you: 5 office policies to break up with
How telehealth is helping emergency eye care teams
DigiSight Technologies, a digital health company, has launched a telehealth solution that enables healthcare teams to collaborate and make informed decisions at the point-of-care at thirteen Banner Health facilities across Arizona. Using Paxos, Banner Health has introduced a teleophthalmology program that allows emergency room doctors to capture the image of a serious eye … [Read more...] about How telehealth is helping emergency eye care teams
Are 5 common, but undiscussable, workplace behaviors putting your patients at risk?
A new study by VitalSmarts suggests that slackers, timid supervisors, toxic peers, and arrogant doctors are common in healthcare. But, while frustrating, these behavior problems aren't the real problem. The real problem in healthcare is silence. VitalSmarts’ study of workplace drama in healthcare found that while most employees and physicians frequently witness these … [Read more...] about Are 5 common, but undiscussable, workplace behaviors putting your patients at risk?
Communication dos and don’ts
Managers still spend a great deal of time communicating face to face, despite the proliferation of technology. However, because of technology, verbal communication skills sometimes take a backseat to written communication skills. Nevertheless, how you say something can be as important as what you say. With this in mind, here are communication dos and don'ts. Do Make sure … [Read more...] about Communication dos and don’ts
Three ways to handle staff complaints
This Reader Tips idea is a triple one. It comes from a consultant and also from a manager, and it is three approaches to solving a single problem – dealing with one staffer's complaint about another. The consultant is Cindy Fondren-Muise, a practice management consultant in Peyton, CO, who has also served as practice administrator of a pain management clinic. And the … [Read more...] about Three ways to handle staff complaints
Should your physicians blog?
Blogging, when successful, results in a certain notoriety, which, in the case of a physician blogger, calls attention to his or her medical practice. Such notoriety can help market the practice and result in new patients. But there are other reasons doctors blog—and, in fact, marketing the practice isn't one of the primary reasons physicians take to the keyboard. Dr. John … [Read more...] about Should your physicians blog?
When a physician commits suicide
The death of a physician or staff member can be difficult for a practice. The loss has an emotional impact on the people who worked with the individual, and the person's passing leaves an obvious void. It also results in numerous practical issues the office manager must address. But a death by suicide takes loss to an entirely different level. And when a physician commits … [Read more...] about When a physician commits suicide
Telephone, email, v-mail, meeting new colleagues: how to look like a pro
In the professional world, proper communication counts big. Any manager or physician who wants to rise above the competition has to know communication etiquette, says Canadian etiquette consultant Jay Remer of St. Andrews, New Brunswick. People expect every doctor to know medicine. How they choose a doctor depends on whether they connect with the individual. And what makes the … [Read more...] about Telephone, email, v-mail, meeting new colleagues: how to look like a pro