Because a job interview produces a lot of pat answers, one medical office manager sends potential hires out to spend 15 minutes with the staff they will be working with. What takes place are "the little conversations that employees have with one another," she says. And the outcome is information no formal interview can uncover. For that reason, the time with staff has … [Read more...] about Potential hires meet with staff as part of job interview
Managing staff
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
Anatomy of a Lessons Learned summary
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio What do you call the CEO of three failed start-up companies? Experienced. Leaders like this are hired time and again because they've made mistakes and learned from them. The lessons they take with them to their next role carry a lot of value. A rite of passage to becoming a great manager is learning to fail in a way that stretches you without … [Read more...] about Anatomy of a Lessons Learned summary
Try these no-cost ways to boost staff morale
To have good employees, an office "has to treat people right," says Sabrina Hebert, manager of Northlake Surgical Associates, a five-physician, 12-staff office in Covington, LA. And her office does that by giving benefits that are a bit out of the ordinary, are well appreciated – and cost little or nothing. The favorite is gift cards. At $0 cost. Herbert buys them with the … [Read more...] about Try these no-cost ways to boost staff morale
Model Project Summary
Why you need this summary: A rite of passage to becoming a great manager is learning to fail in a way that stretches you without breaking you and results in wisdom that improves your resilience and future decision-making. In other words, failure is not necessarily bad. Your ability to grow from the experience, however, depends on your willingness to honestly assess the good, … [Read more...] about Model Project Summary
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
Matching your management style to your employee’s personality
Much like one bad apple, one bad employee can spoil the whole bunch in your office, says Dr. Steve Cohen, Principal, Lead HR Consultant at HR Solutions On-Call. Cohen, who is often described as a "mess management" expert for his ability to solve people problems for vulnerable organizations, says the typical job is always built on the issue of technical skills, but … [Read more...] about Matching your management style to your employee’s personality
Are erratic scheduling practices causing financial instability for your hourly employees
A study reveals that for today's hourly workforce, missing a single shift comes at a steep cost. New research from WorkJam, a digital workplace platform, found that for nearly half of employees surveyed, one missed shift means late payments on rent, utilities, and other basic necessities. "Today's workforce is living paycheck to paycheck," says Steven Kramer, co-founder, … [Read more...] about Are erratic scheduling practices causing financial instability for your hourly employees
3 tricks that make your business writing stronger
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio Ever finished reading a well-written report, article, or white paper and say to yourself, "I wish I could write like that." Well, with a little fine-tuning and practice, you can. You don't have to be a professional wordsmith to produce strong business prose. Add power your documents using these straightforward techniques. 1. Use active … [Read more...] about 3 tricks that make your business writing stronger
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