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
Managing patients
Protecting your employees from workplace violence
By Lynne Curry bio On June 5, 2017, John Neumann Jr. brought a semiautomatic pistol and a hunting knife into his former workplace. He killed five people before turning his gun against himself. It's become chillingly commonplace for us to learn that a terminated employee has stormed into his former workplace and killed those he holds accountable. Each time, the rest … [Read more...] about Protecting your employees from workplace violence
5 ways for healthcare providers to get ready for new Medicare cards
By Dr. Richard E. Wild, M.D., FACEP Chief Medical Officer Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Region IV (AL, Fl, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) Medicare is taking steps to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Through this initiative the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will prevent fraud, fight identity theft, and protect essential program funding and … [Read more...] about 5 ways for healthcare providers to get ready for new Medicare cards
Popular online doctor review sites don’t help patients find high-quality doctors
New research conducted by ConsumerMedical, a leading health care decision support and concierge company, has found that the vast majority of top-rated specialty physicians on YELP, Vitals and Healthgrades aren't the highest ranked physicians when it comes to examining actual performance data related to their medical specialty. ConsumerMedical identified the top 10 ranked … [Read more...] about Popular online doctor review sites don’t help patients find high-quality doctors
How to handle an angry patient
In a medical practice, an angry patient – and sometimes a really angry patient – is apt to appear any time. In a business such as a fast food restaurant, anger is minimal, because the customers don't have high expectations to begin with, says Bob Rose, PhD, of the Rose Porterfield Group, a Dallas business consulting and industrial psychology organization. But when it comes to … [Read more...] about How to handle an angry patient
Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
Is your practice HIPAA compliant? Are you sure? Most health-care providers take very seriously this federal mandate to protect patient privacy—at least in theory. In practice, however, lots of things get missed. "When HIPAA was new and everyone was going to lectures and conferences and getting training, everyone was on top of it," says Erika Adler, an attorney specializing in … [Read more...] about Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
Patient referrals: an untapped source of new revenue
Medical practices sometimes mistakenly believe that patient referrals don't matter. However, like customer referrals, patient referrals are an important—and often untapped—source of new business. There are multiple ways to make sure your practice is encouraging referrals. Here are several areas where you should focus. Family members and their friends Perhaps the most … [Read more...] about Patient referrals: an untapped source of new revenue
Kentucky pediatrics office finds these simple communication tactics can dramatically improve your patient satisfaction
When a Kentucky pediatrics office surveyed its customers, it found great dissatisfaction with the nursing staff. Parents said the nurses were too busy, didn't communicate well, and didn't take personal interest in their children, says the manager of the five-physician office. Yet the office has what she describes as "the sweetest, nicest, kindest nurses imaginable," and they as … [Read more...] about Kentucky pediatrics office finds these simple communication tactics can dramatically improve your patient satisfaction
In Florida, a wheel of fortune ends the not-my-job syndrome
A Florida manager has turned around the "that's-not-my-job" syndrome with a wheel of fortune that gets spun once a month and carries a dozen good items – gift certificates to car washes, movies, and grocery stores. The best is $100 cash. To spin the wheel, staff have to get nominated. And what they get nominated for is outstanding _____. The administrator of a pain management … [Read more...] about In Florida, a wheel of fortune ends the not-my-job syndrome
How one irritated patient can start a social media firefight
By Lynne Curry bio Here's the scenario: One of your physicians considers himself "a law unto himself." When an employee or patient protests how he treats them, he wastes no time telling the employee or patient why they are wrong or where to find the exit door. You've tried for years to get this physician to take it easier on people. No such luck. You've begged … [Read more...] about How one irritated patient can start a social media firefight