For a patient with a disability, an accommodation isn't enough. Behind that disability is a normal person, albeit a person with challenges, and the office has to treat the individual as such, says Lydia Ramsey, business etiquette consultant and author of the book, "Manners That Sell." Patients come to the office because of the medical services it provides, she says. But it's … [Read more...] about Patients with disabilities: your guide to basic etiquette
Managing patients
Improving patient flow with one simple gadget
Having an efficient patient flow is, of course, good for your patients and good for your practice. However, despite all your efforts, sometimes a good flow is derailed during transitions from one stage of a patient's visit to the next, negatively affecting both the patient's experience and your practice's productivity. Fortunately, not every problem needs an expensive solution, … [Read more...] about Improving patient flow with one simple gadget
Doctor.com launches first universal “web-wide” online scheduling solution for healthcare providers
Doctor.com, a customer experience platform purpose-built for the healthcare industry, has launched ScheduleSync™, the first universal web-wide online scheduling solution for healthcare providers. With ScheduleSync™, healthcare providers can enable powerful and highly customizable online scheduling on their own websites, blogs, and Facebook pages, as well as directly from their … [Read more...] about Doctor.com launches first universal “web-wide” online scheduling solution for healthcare providers
In the News: Alliance helps member physicians collect patient reviews and manage online reputation
Physicians belonging to Collier County Medical Society (CCMS) in Florida now have help boosting their online reputation and gaining insight into their practices from patient reviews about their experiences, thanks to a new strategic alliance with Testimonial Tree. For a discounted price, member physicians will have access to Testimonial Tree's reputation management services, … [Read more...] about In the News: Alliance helps member physicians collect patient reviews and manage online reputation
Most of nurse practitioners’ appointment time spent on patient education
Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in helping patients decode medical information, according to the findings of a recently released Merck Manuals survey. The survey of 210 NPs, conducted at a recent medical conference, revealed that most (88 percent) believe they spend at least half of appointment times educating patients on diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions. A … [Read more...] about Most of nurse practitioners’ appointment time spent on patient education
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
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