Any complaint from a staffer about a boss is unpleasant to address. But when the alleged culprit is a physician, the situation can get grim. Confronting the doctor could put the manager in a job-threatening position. It's a touchy situation, says Linnda Durre, PhD, a business consultant, corporate trainer and author of "Surviving the Toxic Workplace: Protect Yourself Against … [Read more...] about What to do when a staffer lodges a valid complaint against a doctor
Working with physicians
Here’s how to get good stuff about the office during an exit interview
An exit interview should bring to light far more than what is good and bad about the office. It should give insight into what's really going on and produce ideas for making improvements. There's an art to exit interviewing. It's a matter of getting the staffer to talk and asking the questions that will keep them talking. A smile at the start Start by setting a positive … [Read more...] about Here’s how to get good stuff about the office during an exit interview
How telehealth can transform your medical practice
Telehealth— the practice of providing a range of healthcare services remotely, as opposed to face-to-face— is revolutionizing the practice of medicine. Adopting it can help you substantially grow your medical practice, according to Nick Hernandez, founder and CEO of ABISA, a consultancy specializing in strategic healthcare initiatives. "I have been helping … [Read more...] about How telehealth can transform your medical practice
Telecommuters not working out? It’s not the flexibility that’s the problem; it’s your training program
Are you seeing a surge in low morale and unproductivity among your remote workers? Research suggests that it may be your lack of strategy and training that's to blame, not the flexibility. According to new national research from the Flex+Strategy Group (FSG), major corporations such as IBM may have gotten it wrong when they cited remote work as a barrier to innovation and … [Read more...] about Telecommuters not working out? It’s not the flexibility that’s the problem; it’s your training program
How one medical center created their dream schedule
At Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, the staff and physicians worked together to create a schedule that meets of the patients, as well as the practice's working parents. Melissa Gohacki, the practice manager, explains how the schedule was designed. I work at a small primary care office- two physicians and two NPs. One of the physicians is married to one of the NPs, and … [Read more...] about How one medical center created their dream schedule
Not just another HR story
By Lynne Curry bio Which do you believe? ☑ You can't trust anyone in HR: they'll get you talking, look sympathetic, but then turn everything you say over to management; ☑ HR is a luxury we don't need when we need all our budget resources to pay the employees who produce; ☑ HR = a partnership for managers, employees & organizations; ☑ HR = lots of talk + … [Read more...] about Not just another HR story
Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
As the office manager of a medical practice, you have an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a valuable contribution. "You really get the chance to be a part of a small business and to wear a lot of different hats," says Mary Pat Whaley, co-founder and president of Manage My Practice, a medical practice consulting firm. What's more, because most physicians are not business … [Read more...] about Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
7 reasons why physicians should join a professional organization
By Nick Hernandez bio There are plenty of healthcare professional organizations, but are the yearly dues worth it to join? As budgets get squeezed, many physicians and practice managers have been cutting back on the number of professional associations they belong to. Although there is often a lack of perceived benefit, membership in professional associations yields a … [Read more...] about 7 reasons why physicians should join a professional organization
Asking for a raise
One of the most frequently asked career questions is, "What is the best way to ask for a raise?" Not surprising, a frequently asked management question is, "What are best practices when it comes to employees asking for a raise?" Answers to these two questions actually have a lot of overlap. Think about the times staff members approached you for a raise. When did they make a … [Read more...] about Asking for a raise
Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral
The job of managing a medical office can be unpredictable, because there's not the luxury of answering to just one boss. Instead, there are as many bosses as there are doctors, and the doctors don't always get along with one another. For that reason, survival rests on neutrality, says management consultant Donna R. Gary of Legal Administrative Services in Sacramento. The … [Read more...] about Keep your job by learning ways to stay neutral