Management & Administration

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.

In today's economy, a job transition is a scary thing.

The most important aspects of integrating new physicians into your practice are clear communication and understanding each others' viewpoints.

In the market for an EHR? Here’s a step-by-step selection guide by internist and pediatrician Rob Lamberts, who’s been through the process himself.

Few administrators experience daily upheavals in their practices, but most are presented with a major transition at some point during their career. Are you ready?

Practice managers who are amicably leaving, be it for retirement or another opportunity, are often tasked with finding and training their own successor. Here’s some advice on this peculiar last act.

A Los Angeles pediatrician thinks she doesn’t have enough time, but is lack of space her real problem?

Point of care, strictly defined (by me), is a mindset, a discipline, a systems approach where patient encounters are conducted in real time.

Are you considering a new career path? Curious about your options, or simply looking for new ways to find balance in your life? In this podcast, Michelle Mudge-Riley, who consults with physicians interested in transitioning into nonclinical jobs, discusses the chief complaints of practicing physicians and explores available career options.

Why travel for meetings when simple technologies make it possible to have all of your meetings in your office (or, heck, in your living room)?

Dispensing vaccines is frustrating and expensive. Here’s a shot in the arm for vaccine management.

One thing that creates friction in medical practices is the success and subsequent recognition of one of its members.

Is your practice in the market for a new EHR or other new technology you’re not all that familiar with? Or do you want to upgrade some outdated software or IT tool, and you’re not sure how to start looking? Physicians Practice’s new Product Assessment Worksheet, adapted from a checklist created by New Jersey’s Regional Women’s Health Group, can help you compare products and ensure they are appropriate for your office’s specific needs.

You’re ready to buy an EMR. But how do you know which one is right for your practice?