Their role as healers makes it easy to forget physicians are subject to the same illnesses that befall other humans. They are not invincible, even though their silence about their own health might lead staff and patients to believe otherwise. Physician illness is a topic that's not often discussed, even within the physician community. When physicians do broach the subject, … [Read more...] about What to do when your doctor becomes a patient
Working with physicians
6 tips for getting your physicians onto the speaker circuit
One impactful way to promote your physicians' expertise, foster professional growth, and enhance your practice's reputation is by encouraging them to speak at live conferences and web events. Consider these benefits of physician presentations and outline how you, as a medical office manager, can assist in securing these valuable speaking engagements. Establishing Thought … [Read more...] about 6 tips for getting your physicians onto the speaker circuit
Better patient communication for better care and engagement
Effective patient communication is at the heart of a successful medical practice. It's not just about delivering medical care; it's also about creating a meaningful and lasting relationship with your patients. In today's digital age, the landscape of communication has expanded, offering numerous channels to connect with patients. From appointment reminders to follow-up care … [Read more...] about Better patient communication for better care and engagement
3 tips for better patient education
The link between patient education and outcomes is clear: When patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan, they’re more likely to become and remain healthy. In fact, health literacy—the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions—should be a top priority for medical practices … [Read more...] about 3 tips for better patient education
What to do when patients use the internet for self-diagnosis
There’s a wealth of medical information online, and increasingly patients are tapping it to come up with their own diagnoses. Needless to say, this results in numerous challenges for medical practitioners and office staff. But how exactly do you navigate the issues that arise from too much information – information that, incidentally, is often incorrect? First, the … [Read more...] about What to do when patients use the internet for self-diagnosis
Integrating telemedicine into your practice
The healthcare landscape is evolving, and telemedicine has emerged as a transformative tool for medical practices to expand their reach, improve patient access, and provide high-quality care remotely. Integrating telemedicine services into your practice requires careful planning and execution, considering aspects like technology, staff training, patient communication, and … [Read more...] about Integrating telemedicine into your practice
Touchy situation: Our CEO has memory issues
By Lynne Curry Question: Our company’s owner and his wife have semi-retired and leave for their vacation home every October. They hired a general manager in September after a long search for the right candidate. Our owner was so excited to find this candidate, given his industry experience and track record, that he paid the man and his family’s expenses to move to our … [Read more...] about Touchy situation: Our CEO has memory issues
Track these 5 metrics for practice profitability
By Mike Rigert “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … , ” wrote author Charles Dickens in his classic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities.” While it’s certainly not the worst of times for most healthcare practices (that honor likely went to 2020-2021), things could always be better, … [Read more...] about Track these 5 metrics for practice profitability
How to share bad news with your staff
There are times when changes at the practice affect the entire staff—and, unfortunately, not all changes are positive. The practice may be relocating, and the new location could involve an unrealistic commute for some staff members. Or the practice may be merging with another practice, which will result in layoffs. Or the practice may be closing, for any number of … [Read more...] about How to share bad news with your staff
Overloaded at work? Here’s what you should do
You have more work than you can handle—and no matter how hard you work, you can't seem to get ahead. In fact, it's gotten to the point that you're exhausted. Most days you don't even like your job anymore. If this sounds like you, it's time to make a change. And that change doesn't have to involve a new place of employment. Instead, it's time to assess your situation and … [Read more...] about Overloaded at work? Here’s what you should do