You may be hosting a big holiday party for your employees this December. And, like many medical offices do, you may be serving liquor at that party. That's fine. Just make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into. Relax. We're not going to lecture you on the dangers of drinking and driving. No sense preaching to the choir. But what we can do to help you out is … [Read more...] about Manage your medical office’s holiday party liability risks
General
Office runs better when manager clarifies authority
The manager of a Maryland family medicine practice had trouble getting the physicians to make decisions about important matters. It was bad enough with the three originating physicians from when the practice was set up five years earlier. With the addition of a fourth physician, the chain of authority became even more confusing. With too many leaders and not enough … [Read more...] about Office runs better when manager clarifies authority
Give a ‘wake-up call’ to these 3 common types of “nightmare staffers”
Nightmare employees come in all sorts of packages. Here are three of them: the staffer who always has an excuse, the staffer who downplays any negative remark about performance, and the staffer who demands the manager's constant attention. Management consultant Diane Ciotta, president of The Keynote Effect in Long Branch, NJ, tells how to handle each one. The excuser … [Read more...] about Give a ‘wake-up call’ to these 3 common types of “nightmare staffers”
Three ways to handle staff complaints
This Reader Tips idea is a triple one. It comes from a consultant and also from a manager, and it is three approaches to solving a single problem – dealing with one staffer's complaint about another. The consultant is Cindy Fondren-Muise, a practice management consultant in Peyton, CO, who has also served as practice administrator of a pain management clinic. And the … [Read more...] about Three ways to handle staff complaints
Tattoos and piercings: what’s your policy?
If ink and body jewelry seem more prevalent than they once were, it's not your imagination. Tattoos and piercings have become commonplace, especially among people of a certain age. Consider these numbers from Statistics Brain, a website that aggregates research data. Taking into account all age groups, 23 percent of American women and 19 percent of American men have one or … [Read more...] about Tattoos and piercings: what’s your policy?
How to write a strong collection letter
Increasing patient payments improves the practice's bottom line. But how exactly do you motivate patients to pay? To write an effective collection letter, follow these guidelines. • Make it short. Limit the letter to one page. Limit the paragraphs to two sentences. Limit the sentences to 22 words. And limit the words to three syllables. Do this and the message will be … [Read more...] about How to write a strong collection letter
Specific acknowledgement, specific recognition create a happy, productive staff
What's the one element that makes people pleased to come to work every day? Appreciation from the boss. Appreciation is so important that the Department of Labor cites lack of it as the No. 1 reason people leave their jobs, says attorney and business coach Nora Riva Bergman of Real Life Practice in Tarpon Springs, FL. And appreciation goes a long way, because it gets staff … [Read more...] about Specific acknowledgement, specific recognition create a happy, productive staff
Involving staff in marketing generates good ideas and sense of teamwork
An office manager looking for ways to encourage a team atmosphere decided to ask staff to help market the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) practice where they all work. The goal was to help staff see that everyone plays a key role in the four-physician, 22-staff practice. The office manager began by holding a meeting focused on the important role everyone plays in marketing the … [Read more...] about Involving staff in marketing generates good ideas and sense of teamwork
The surprising answer to what your staff really wants
What do employees want? Flexible work arrangements are often at or near the top of survey lists. And yes, money matters. But, perhaps surprising, career development also gets top rankings. Employees want to acquire knowledge and learn new skills in order to do their jobs and advance their careers. What's more, development opportunities play an important role in keeping staff … [Read more...] about The surprising answer to what your staff really wants
Patients with disabilities: your guide to basic etiquette
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