Success Strategy: Set One Big Goal for 2012

The beginning of a new year naturally feels like a fresh start, when all things seem possible. It’s tempting to get caught up in the excitement and make long lists of tasks and goals to accomplish, only to find enthusiasm waning (or completely gone) by the end of January. One technique to avoid this rollercoaster is to limit yourself to a single big practice goal for the year. Consider it your annual BHAG (“big hairy audacious goal”–a term coined by the authors of Built to Last, a popular business book from the mid-90s.) Declaring a BHAG doesn’t mean you won’t also achieve additional smaller goals throughout the year, but having one major intent for the year can help keep you focused and more likely to experience success.

Consider these questions as you think about what your 2012 BHAG should be: Read the rest of this entry »

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NLRB (National Labor Relations Board )Postpones Effective Date of New Posting Rule to April 30, 2012 from January 31, 2012.

The delay is at the request of the Washington D.C. federal court, due to the court  currently hearing a legal challenge regarding the rule. Challenges such as this one are not unusual regarding new federal posting requirements. The NLRB states that postponing the effective date will facilitate the resolution of the legal challenges.

Those who have already bought the posters  are in 100% compliance with the posting requirement.   This new posting is still expected to go into effect … just at a later date than expected.

Posters ordered at this time are in compliance with the requirement that nearly all private-sector employers  notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by posting a notice.

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ICD-10: Best Sources for Reliable Information

The American Medical Association (AMA), at its November 15, 2011, House of Delegates meeting, voted to “work vigorously to stop implementation of ICD-10.” The AMA contends that ICD-10 (scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2013, and impact virtually every physician and healthcare organization in the country) will not benefit patients and will create “significant burdens” on medical practices. Whether lawmakers will be influenced by the AMA’s stance is yet to be seen, but no matter what unfolds between now and next October, it will be important for all practices to keep an eye on this situation, continue to gather good information, and prepare for change. Here are several good resources to help you get the facts you need about ICD-10. Read the rest of this entry »

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Why Marketing Should Be in Your 2012 Budget

When budgets are tight, marketing is often the first line item to receive scrutiny. It’s tempting to try to save money by reducing or eliminating expenses associated with promoting your practice, but in doing so, you might just find that you’re hurting the bottom line rather than helping it in the long run. Here are five reasons to keep marketing in your 2012 budget.

1. People are mobile. Even the most successful practices lose patients due to attrition. We live in a society that is extremely mobile and now, perhaps more than ever before, people are willing to (or are forced to) relocate in order to secure a job. Keeping your practice name front and center in the community will help you attract new families who move into the area as some of your current patients leave, either by choice or by necessity. Read the rest of this entry »

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Are You Ready for a Practice Merger?

It’s no secret that smaller medical practices have struggled financially in recent years. In response, many have merged with colleagues or sold out to large clinics or hospitals. If you’re growing weary of “going it alone,” ask yourself the following questions before going into merger talks.

Am I ready to give up some control? For doctors who are in solo or very small practices, suddenly having to share decision making (or give it up entirely in certain areas) is reason enough to say no to a merger opportunity. If you’re not prepared to have someone else control things like scheduling, staffing, which computer system you’ll use, and what your benefit package will look like, then you might be better off working toward making your small practice efficient enough to survive current conditions rather than joining forces with others.

Do I play well with others? If you make the leap to practicing in a larger organization, you’ll find yourself with new colleagues, some of whom may not turn out to be your favorite people. Read the rest of this entry »

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Encouraging Cultural Competence Among Staff

The U.S. is, by design, a culturally diverse country, and is becoming more so with each passing decade. Successful medical practices recognize this fact and are adjusting how they deliver care to meet the needs of patients from a variety of cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. One way to ensure that all patients feel comfortable in your office is to encourage cultural competence among the staff. Being culturally competent simply means that you respect diversity, that you make a reasonable attempt to understand differences, and that you treat people in ways that demonstrate you are aware of the unique aspects of their culture.

For example, in some cultures, family members (rather than patients themselves) are informed about a challenging medical diagnosis or poor prognosis. Among certain religious groups, an extremely high value is placed on personal modesty. And in more formal cultures, it would be considered impolite for a receptionist, nurse, or even a doctor to call a patient by his or her first name. Understanding your patient population is the first step in becoming culturally competent. Take a few minutes to think about which minority groups your practice serves. Then, challenge your staff to boost their cultural competence by using some of the following ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

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