Management & Administration

Medical coding guidance on prevention planning; the ICD-10 transition; ABN advice; and more.

The deadline for conversion from the present electronic claims transaction standard to Version 5010 is fast approaching. Make sure both your practice and systems vendor are ready for the change.

Doctors don't always get along with each other. Some might avoid contact with other physicians, or speak negatively about a colleague in front of a patient. This kind of behavior can directly compromise patient care.

Workplace negativity can drag down a practice and its staff, hurting both patient care and the bottom line. So what can you do to boost staff morale and encourage teamwork at your office?

Do you have an emergency plan in place? You should. Our disaster-planning checklist gets you started.

Effectively controlling costs in a medical practice essentially means controlling personnel costs.

Even if you choose not to implement a full EHR right now, you can take a big step toward digitizing your practice.

If you’re confused about the federal incentives to buy an EHR and what meaningful use means, you're not alone. We have the answers in our 2010 Technology Survey.

Advance preparation is your key to successfully managing the ICD-10 conversion. Here’s what your practice needs to know and do to get ready.

Maryland, Massachusetts, and Minnesota are putting extra pressure on physicians to adopt EHRs. Now it's time to see if other states follow.

Like most administrators, your education and experience have given you all the tools you need to help your practice succeed - Not that you’ll get the chance to prove it. When you find that your tasks are overwhelming your projects, that’s when it’s time to hire an assistant.

Here are the fourteen key measurements you need to make -- about once a quarter -- to measure your practice's financial health. We've made it easy for you. Just enter some information; we'll do the math.

Tell 'em what you want and how you'd like to hear about what happened.

Abstracted with permission from Chapter 4 of The Toyota Way by Jeffrey Liker. This chapter summarizes the principles of lean manufacturing, now being used in medical practices. Order the book at www.amazon.com.

A sample review form for staff performance.

Consider this template for annual or quarterly reviews of the performance of business managers in your practice. Of course, make sure your review reflects goals set at the beginning of the year or in a job description.

Opening a new practice? Here are some of the things you will need to get done before the doors open.

Detailed elements to consider when reviewing workflow in your office. Use this checklist to help define staff responsibilities and best methods to make workflow seamless.

You give annual reviews to staff, why not to physicians? This form gives physicians feedback about their clinical quality, bedside manner, and ability to work with others.

Employee fatigue and lack of engagement can be tricky problems for managers to combat. But there are ways to challenge and inspire your staff without breaking the bank. Here’s how to re-energize and recharge your team.

Voice recognition software has gotten more sophisticated and easier to use. Still, is it good enough yet to be worth the time and money it will cost you to use it?

Thinking of leaving your practice? Plan ahead to avoid problems with malpractice insurance, non-compete clauses, and other issues.

Love your staff but worry they’d leave at the first sign of trouble? Read on for our suggestions on keeping your staff happy and loyal to you.

It is easy to fall prey to the pressure to update your own office building. But before you do, there are a few things you should consider.

Considering starting a master’s program or getting the latest certification? Here’s the scoop on the benefits of continuing education and credentials for practice administrators.

Here’s our primer on the tools that can help you manage the complex reporting requirements of pay-for-performance programs.

New technology is supposed to reduce your staffing needs. But how do you get staff on board with a change that may end up costing some of them their jobs?

Have you heard about that “free” electronic medical records system that your local hospital, vendor, or the government is offering? Sounds good, right? But be careful. While there are ways to get EMR software for little or no cost, there are still expenses (and sometimes other strings) attached.

An EMR purchase is a business decision like any other. It’s an expensive decision, true, and it requires change. But it’s still just a business decision. What questions should you really be asking yourself?

What are physicians like you doing when it comes to purchasing new office technologies? Our Fifth Annual Technology Survey cuts through the hype and gives it to you straight.