The true impact of a COVID-19 outbreak in a U.S. community cannot be predicted. However, all healthcare facilities can take steps now to prepare for such an outbreak and protect both their patients and staff. 1 Be prepared: Stay informed about the local COVID-19 situation. Know where to turn for reliable, up-to-date information in your local community. Monitor the CDC … [Read more...] about 4 steps prepare your medical office for coronavirus disease
Managing patients
How your staff can help prevent costly malpractice lawsuits
Doctors aren't the only ones who cause malpractice claims. Staff can cause them too by the way they treat the patients and by the way they do their jobs. It's not the clinical mishap that most often causes a patient to see a lawyer. Many patients sue because they are dissatisfied or because there is a lack of communication. To a great extent it is not the physicians but the … [Read more...] about How your staff can help prevent costly malpractice lawsuits
Internet use can help patients self-diagnose rare genetic disorders
The notion of empowering patients to take control over their own health care is particularly powerful within the realm of genomic diagnostics to the extent that patients can theoretically seek their own tests without a physician's order for an undiagnosed genetic disease or disorder they suspect they might have. Leaving aside the question of whether this is a positive or … [Read more...] about Internet use can help patients self-diagnose rare genetic disorders
The plain and practical side of medical office managing
Equally as important as regulations, revenue, coding, and Medicare are the day-to-day issues of running the office and managing people. Here are solutions to many of the ongoing and aggravating issues managers face every day. They don't come from management school. They are the wisdom of consultants and of managers in medical offices. And they are all simple, workable … [Read more...] about The plain and practical side of medical office managing
Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
Most medical practices take time once a year to create new office goals or a business plan and, hopefully, to upgrade their policy manuals. And consideration of collecting on co-pays and deductibles needs to be an integral part of that business plan, according to Michael Glass, a medical consultant with Transworld Systems Inc. (TSI). Why bother with an office policy? The … [Read more...] about Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
By Danika Brinda bio HIPAA Compliance is a term that is often thrown around the healthcare industry; however, I commonly ask myself: Is the meaning of HIPAA Compliance the same throughout the industry? The answer is NO! Walking into a healthcare organization in the last month, the HIPAA Privacy Officer was excited to tell me that they are fully HIPAA compliant and … [Read more...] about 5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
Separate room for schedulers calms front office chaos
A few years ago, a North Carolina pediatric practice realized that the front desk is not the best place to check people in, make return appointments, and schedule new appointments – all at the same time. With staff constantly having to answer phones, the area was too busy and too noisy to give waiting patients the attention they deserved. People were waiting in line only to … [Read more...] about Separate room for schedulers calms front office chaos
Social media is a double win for your medical practice and your career
Digital media specialist Brittney Overstreet says social media has given word-of-mouth marketing—the oldest marketing tool—unanticipated strength that can dramatically boost your medical practice or effortlessly destroy it if you don't know how to manage it. Social media, defined as the online method for sharing information with an audience, is used by many patients to … [Read more...] about Social media is a double win for your medical practice and your career
OIG issues genetic testing fraud alert
Have your patients got themselves involved with a genetic testing scam? The Office of Inspector General has issued a fraud alert warning of a genetic testing fraud scheme. According to the OIG, scammers are using telemarketing calls, booths at health fairs and public events and door-to-door visits offering Medicare beneficiaries cheek swabs for genetic testing. The objective … [Read more...] about OIG issues genetic testing fraud alert
Staff name badges help patients feel comfortable
A seemingly simple, easy-to-implement change can have a positive impact on your practice. Staff name badges make patients feel at ease and help facilitate friendly relationships between medical workers and patients. A recent nationwide survey finds four out of five patients say it is important to identify the name and specialty of medical personnel when being treated. … [Read more...] about Staff name badges help patients feel comfortable