Common Sense Ways to Reduce Your Risk of a Lawsuit

Medical malpractice suits are filed every day, all around the country, by patients who were either harmed while receiving medical care, or who feel that they were. Most physicians, over the course of a career, will be named in at least one lawsuit, the vast majority of which are dismissed or settled out of court. Almost all healthcare providers carry professional liability insurance intended to cover them financially in the event of a suit. But, just as we all have auto insurance that we hope we never need to use, doctors hope never to receive the dreaded notification that they’re being sued. When it comes to malpractice, prevention is the name of the game. Here are three common sense ways to help reduce the risk of having your practice embroiled in the legal system. Read the rest of this entry »

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How to Attract and Retain the Best Staff

It’s long been known that job satisfaction is based on much more than money. Doing meaningful work, feeling appreciated and respected, and having a reasonable degree of control within the office environment trumps money for most people. You can attract and keep the best staff in town by creating and maintaining a culture within your practice that makes people want to work for you. Consider some of the following possibilities if your goal is to be considered the place to be employed.

To the degree possible, offer scheduling flexibility, not only in terms of hours worked each week and daily start and end times, but also in terms of work flow. For example, one employee might like to do somewhat mundane tasks like filing or straightening exam rooms first thing in the morning as a way to ease into the day, while another might prefer to do those same chores at the end of the day. Read the rest of this entry »

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Plan Now for the Holiday Season

In a recent post, we discussed the importance of preparing early to deliver holiday greetings to patients to avoid rushing around during this always busy season.

In addition to the time-honored tradition of sending cards, there are a number of other steps you can take in your practice that will make the upcoming holiday season smooth and enjoyable. Here are six to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

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Reducing Supply Costs

The largest expenses in a medical practice – typically payroll, rent and malpractice insurance – are relatively fixed. You can save a bit on utilities by being energy conscious and cut cash outflow to a degree for certain services with sharp negotiation, but there is only so much you can do to reduce those expenses. Where you can make a difference in your budget and your bottom line is in how much you spend on supplies, both office and medical, by following these tips.

1. Put one person in charge of ordering and maintaining inventory, or two if you have a large practice, in which case you can split the duties between front and back office supplies. The focus should be (in addition to maintaining proper stock levels) staying on top of which vendors are offering the best deals when, and taking advantage of special offers that crop up from time to time. If ink cartridges go on sale, order a few extra. When paper gowns or exam gloves are offered at a discount for a short period of time, stock up. Read the rest of this entry »

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

If you’re old enough – say, 50ish or beyond – you probably remember a time when women who had breast cancer were very “hush hush” about their illness and treatment. People would whisper about this friend or that family member having cancer, but speaking about it openly simply wasn’t done. Thank goodness those days have passed, and empowered women (and men) who have been impacted by breast cancer are speaking out and raising both awareness and money to fight the disease.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women (lung cancer is first). Every year, almost 40,000 women die from the disease. Read the rest of this entry »

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New Labor Law Posting Requirement

There is a new labor law posting requirement that may affect your practice.

The National Labor Relations Board has recently issued a rule that requires nearly all U.S. businesses to post a notice to employees communicating their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Covered employers must replace their federal poster by November 14, 2011, to remain in compliance.

The new posting is mandatory regardless of your company’s union status. It applies to both union and non-union workplaces alike.

The easiest and most effective way to protect your business is with the ComplyRight™ Federal Poster. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in In the News, Practice Management, Regulations | No Comments »