As a medical office manager, you play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive patient information in an increasingly digital landscape. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it an ideal time to revisit your cybersecurity practices, ensure compliance with regulations, and raise awareness among your staff about potential cybersecurity risks. Here’s how you can … [Read more...] about It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protecting patient data in a digital world
Risk management
How to curb office gossip in your medical practice
Office gossip can quickly create a toxic environment, especially in a medical practice where teamwork and trust are essential for patient care. As a medical office manager, it’s your responsibility to maintain a professional atmosphere where everyone feels respected and focused on their work. Gossip undermines that environment, breeding negativity, reducing productivity, and … [Read more...] about How to curb office gossip in your medical practice
Crisis management in a medical office: Preparing for and responding to unexpected events
In a medical office, crisis management isn’t just about handling emergencies—it's about being prepared for and responding effectively to unexpected events that could disrupt your practice and impact patient care. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a data breach, or an unforeseen staffing issue, having a solid crisis management plan is essential for maintaining the safety, … [Read more...] about Crisis management in a medical office: Preparing for and responding to unexpected events
Physicians behaving badly: what to do when it affects patients
Poor physician behavior. It can run the gamut from rudeness to actions that invite malpractice claims. When does it cross the line from unpleasant to necessitating action from the practice? The answer is when it impacts the patient or has potential legal significance. And sometimes it does both. Patient losses, court losses The first concern is the patients. Whenever a … [Read more...] about Physicians behaving badly: what to do when it affects patients
Keep those payables paid with efficient procedures
Managing your medical office's financial obligations effectively not only ensures the smooth operation of your practice but also upholds its financial integrity. Here are the steps to establish efficient accounts payable procedures that help maintain financial stability, ensure compliance, and build strong vendor relationships. 1. Develop a Clear Accounts Payable Policy: … [Read more...] about Keep those payables paid with efficient procedures
21 easy ways to boost practice profitability fast
Simple changes to billing procedures, hiring policies, purchasing, patient relations, and other daily activities can have a positive impact on your practice's bottom line. Here are 21 ways you can quickly boost practice profitability. 1. Name a reimbursement coordinator To get all the reimbursement possible, hire or appoint someone to be a reimbursement coordinator. It … [Read more...] about 21 easy ways to boost practice profitability fast
Quiz: How well do you manage passwords?
Did you know that most confirmed data breaches involve the leveraging of weak, stolen, or default passwords? One of your practice’s frontline defenses for avoiding the phishing attacks and other cybercriminal schemes is effective password management. How well are you managing yours? Take this quiz from Michael J. Sacopulos, JD, founder and CEO of the Medical Risk … [Read more...] about Quiz: How well do you manage passwords?
Make everyone welcome by improving accessibility and inclusivity in your medical office
Creating an accessible and inclusive medical practice is essential for providing high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. As a medical office manager, you play a crucial role in ensuring that your practice is welcoming and accommodating to everyone. Here are some practical steps you can take to improve accessibility and inclusivity in … [Read more...] about Make everyone welcome by improving accessibility and inclusivity in your medical office
Our staff fell for a cyber attack
By Lynne Curry Question: Four of our staffers fell for a cyber attack last week. They opened an email attachment they thought originated from our HR department, which regularly emails policy updates to all staff. This email had the subject line: Changes to Vacation Policies. Even though we’ve trained our staff members not to click on suspicious emails, and certainly … [Read more...] about Our staff fell for a cyber attack
HIPAA compliance checklist
Having a complete HIPAA compliance program is important to your organization. Run through this HIPAA compliance checklist to see if you have your foundation of HIPAA compliance in place and easily retrievable. HIPAA Policies and Procedures HIPAA privacy policies, procedures, and forms HIPAA security policies, procedures, and forms HIPAA Breach Notification policy and … [Read more...] about HIPAA compliance checklist