As the office manager of a medical practice, you have an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a valuable contribution. "You really get the chance to be a part of a small business and to wear a lot of different hats," says Mary Pat Whaley, co-founder and president of Manage My Practice, a medical practice consulting firm. What's more, because most physicians are not business … [Read more...] about Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
Managing staff
What? Not another upgrade!
How to ensure a smooth transition when you upgrade your EMR software or install a new system Just when everyone is trained and comfortable with your EMR system, along comes an upgrade. Keeping up with the demands of meaningful use and changing regulations has software vendors sending out upgrades with alarming frequency. This means that you may be spending far more time and … [Read more...] about What? Not another upgrade!
Asking for a raise
One of the most frequently asked career questions is, "What is the best way to ask for a raise?" Not surprising, a frequently asked management question is, "What are best practices when it comes to employees asking for a raise?" Answers to these two questions actually have a lot of overlap. Think about the times staff members approached you for a raise. When did they make a … [Read more...] about Asking for a raise
Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
Meeting every week with the doctors makes a tremendous difference in how smoothly – and also how successfully – an office operates, says the manager of a pediatrics practice in Colorado. For her office, it's an 8 a.m. meeting every Monday, a good time, because it sets the tone for the week. It also keeps everybody on the same page. And it ensures that the doctors know all the … [Read more...] about Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
10 Tips for Safely Navigating Maternity Leave of Absence
By Paul Edwards bio As employers and managers, all of us, at one point or another, will have an employee who is or becomes pregnant and needs to take a Maternity Leave of Absence (LOA). In fact, some of the most frequently asked questions we get here at CEDR HR Solutions revolve around what an employer is required by law to provide to their pregnant employees. Common … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Safely Navigating Maternity Leave of Absence
Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral
The job of managing a medical office can be unpredictable, because there's not the luxury of answering to just one boss. Instead, there are as many bosses as there are doctors, and the doctors don't always get along with one another. For that reason, survival rests on neutrality, says management consultant Donna R. Gary of Legal Administrative Services in Sacramento. The … [Read more...] about Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral
5 things leaders can learn from stand-up comedians
By Andrew Tarvin bio As you can imagine, stand-up comedy can make you a better presenter. After all, it's one of the hardest forms of public speaking you'll ever do (aside from effectively teaching second graders), which means if you can do okay in stand-up, all other types of business presentations will seem easier. But stand-up comedy can also make you a better … [Read more...] about 5 things leaders can learn from stand-up comedians
How employers can help break the stigma of mental health in the workplace?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! With approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is imperative that today's employers focus on breaking the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Why is it important to employers? By addressing this taboo topic, employees can educate themselves and … [Read more...] about How employers can help break the stigma of mental health in the workplace?
3 bonus formulas that boost staff productivity
What bonuses should the office give, and how can it design the bonuses to increase productivity? As to the amount to give, a few consultants recommend setting aside as much as 17 percent to 21 percent of the monthly profits for staff bonuses. Most, however, recommend less. Whatever amount the office opts to allow, here are some ways to mete it out. Formula 1 The traditional … [Read more...] about 3 bonus formulas that boost staff productivity
Short newsletter keeps multiple sites and doctors up to date
Because health care is synonymous with change, and because notice of every change doesn't always get through to every person who needs to know about it, a Minnesota practice has set up a brief in-house newsletter. The pediatrics practice has six sites, and the newsletter is written for the site managers as well as for the providers. The little publication is a good way to get … [Read more...] about Short newsletter keeps multiple sites and doctors up to date