Shelly K. Schwartz

Got a bad-tempered doc on staff? Don’t let him (or her) ruin a perfectly good practice.

Faced with greater-than-ever financial pressures, oncology practices are forging new types of partnerships to provide quality care while maintaining fiscal health. Wondering if such a scheme is right for you? Here’s our look at the options.

The holidays are fraught with opportunities to offend. Here’s some advice for avoiding the blues.

Front and back offices are at war with one another in many practices, with each side accusing the other of “not getting it.” Here’s how to get everyone on the same side.

A mission statement isn’t just words on a page. It’s a statement of principles that will help guide every decision you make. Here’s some help on how to develop one you can be proud of.

Roughly two-thirds of U.S. physicians will be sued at least once during their careers. You need to know exactly what to do when it happens - before it happens. We show you how to prepare.

You’ve been the backbone of your practice for years, but your compensation hasn’t changed much. Do you have to move out to move up?

Recruiting new physicians is harder than ever these days. Here’s how to boost your chances of finding Dr. Right.

As a practice expands, so do its management needs. Here’s how to delegate authority while retaining overall control.

These are the patients that try physicians’ souls. They never pay on time. They don’t respect personal boundaries. They’re demanding and, sometimes, even abusive. What to do with these dark clouds?

Here’s how to give your staff some scheduling flexibility, while keeping the office sufficiently staffed.

How often and which practice reports should you deliver to your group’s physicians? The wrong answer could cost you big.

More physicians are demanding part-time and flex-time arrangements, but these can wreak havoc on your call and patient schedules, and your compensation system. Here’s how to keep everyone happy.

Look for attitude, and not just skills and experience, when recruiting a new staffer.

Why noncompliant patients come to see you in the first place is a mystery, but we have some pointers on getting through to even the most recalcitrant - and how to protect yourself when nothing works.

Administrators have a crucial role in the EMR-shopping process. You’re the adviser, manager, and head cheerleader. But you’re not the decision-maker. Here’s how to walk the line with grace.

When good employees are promoted to managerial roles, the transition can sometimes be rocky. Here’s how to help new supervisors make the leap successfully.

What advice do the best veteran practice administrators around have to share? We thought someone should ask them. So we did.

Many resourceful physicians have turned to adding ancillary services as a way of boosting income. But be careful: While this strategy can and often does work, it comes with risk - to your wallet and your preferred practice style. Keep your eyes open.

Not all high-tech tools come with futuristic price tags. These solutions can streamline your processes, boost your bottom line, and make doing your job a whole lot easier.

Change is hard on everyone, but sometimes it’s for the best. Here’s how to help staff accept it - and embrace it.

It’s almost the end of the year. But before you break out the party hats, take some time to give your practice its annual exam. What do you need to do before Baby New Year arrives?

Here’s how to say what the boss doesn’t want to hear.

You know what to do with your star employees: Promote them. You know how to handle persistent underperformers: Replace them. But what about the masters of mediocrity - those staff who do enough, but just barely? How do you motivate these middlings to excel?

Obtain staff buy-in for a teamwork approach.

It’s common for physicians to be related to - often married to - a member of their office staff. But is it a good idea?

Low- and no-cost ways to motivate staff.

The five biggest mistakes managers make - and how to avoid them.

Our monthly column just for practice administrators. This issue: Techniques for decompressing.

America has become a smorgasbord of races, creeds, and nationalities - and both your patient base and coworkers now reflect this diversity. How can you bridge cultural and communication gaps to deliver the best care possible?