In 2018, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky identified soft skills as the biggest skills gap in the U.S. Further research has shown that gaps in soft skills exist across all roles and nearly all functions. Healthcare careers are almost always in demand with far more jobs than qualified candidates in many markets.

Topics: medical office, medical office staff, staff recruiting, medical office training

Asking the right questions not only will secure the right talent but will also keep the practice out of legal trouble. Learn the questions you can and can't ask to avoid putting yourself and your practice at risk. What you ask and how you ask matters. 

Topics: Practice management, medical office manager topics, medical office compliance, personnel management

If you dread conducting employee performance reviews, you're not alone. But perception is everything; a performance evaluation does not have to be confrontational. it can be an uplifting and productive opportunity to connect with your team members. Reviews are a good time to formally recognize your team members for going above and beyond. It is also a confidential space to address problems head-on and provide a pathway for improvement. What you say, and how you say it must be carefully considered during a review to avoid a negative result.

Topics: medical office manager topics, cmom certification, medical practice issues, medical office staff, medical office leadership

With all the major stressors involved in practice management, it's easy to lose sight of an obscure issue like ergonomics. But studies like this one in the Journal of Preventative Medicine and Hygiene (JPMH) have shown that time spent evaluating the health and safety of your team's workstation will help improve mental acuity and decrease physical stress and absenteeism.

Topics: Practice management, medical office manager topics, medical office compliance, medical practice issues, osha, hazard communication

Tense situations in a medical office are inevitable, and knowing how to de-escalate a potentially violent situation is a skill that every provider and employee needs to know.  You hope you never have to use it, but having an emergency action protocol and team response training will help protect your team when seconds count. 

Topics: Practice management, medical practice issues, workplace violence, emergency preparedness, personnel management

The rapid evolution of telehealth services has helped keep medical practice virtual doors open to meet their patients' health needs during the pandemic. But with new utilization comes cautionary areas from a billing standpoint, and it's important to stay current on updates and compliance protocols to promote revenue growth and avoid financial loss. 

Topics: Practice management, payer contract, medical office compliance, medical practice issues, medical billing, financial management, medical coding

Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year, and the number has only grown since the start of the pandemic. While workplace violence can strike anywhere and at any time, the risk of assault can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions.

Topics: medical office compliance, medical practice issues, workplace violence

As a Medical Office Manager, there are few actions as uncomfortable as firing an employee. Yet, after verbal warnings, write-ups, and other corrective actions, you know when this time has come to gather your documentation and make difficult decisions about how and when to proceed. But failure to follow proper procedures and federal guidelines could put your practice at risk of an employee lawsuit or a compliance violation. Take a look at some best practices and a termination checklist below to help you proceed professionally and safely.

Topics: Practice management, CMOM, medical office manager topics, medical office compliance, medical practice issues, personnel management

No matter where you are in your career, long-range planning and determination will help you achieve your goals faster. And if your plan includes rising the ranks in medical office management, then experience, time management, confidence, and great people skills will help you get there. Add certification in medical office management to the mix, and you've got a long-term recipe for success! 

Don't know where to start? Here are a few steps to help get you on your way to becoming a Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM). We know you can do it, so let's get you there!

Topics: CMOM, PMI Certification, medical office, medical office leadership

In a time where medical practices and hospitals continue to experience staff shortages, it is more important than ever to cultivate and embrace your team. Leading an engaged, productive, and happy team is a hallmark of a successful medical office manager. It's also one of the biggest practice management challenges. So where do you begin? Read on for some tips to lead a great medical office team.

Topics: Practice management, medical office manager topics, medical practice issues

Two of the most common questions PMI receives about the Certified Medical Office Manager credential are, "Why do I need a CMOM certification?" and "How can I get buy-in from my provider/supervisor?"  We asked PMI faculty member, Linda D’Spain, to share her thoughts and address these specific CMOM FAQs. Whether you are just starting out on your career journey or thinking about your next career move, watch the video or read on for insider tips to get you CMOM-ready. 

Topics: CMOM, PMI Certification, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager, cmom certification, CMOM FAQs

As the pandemic fades, medical practices are adapting to a different work climate post-pandemic. You could say the “next normal” is far from normalcy as medical office managers struggle to hire and retain employees and continue to work through ongoing challenges like getting patients back to receive services, managing a reduction in cash flow, and watching for post-pandemic reimbursement and business process revisions.

Topics: Practice management, CMOM, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager, medical office leadership

One of the most popular training and certification programs PMI offers is the Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)(R). This curriculum helps office managers take charge of their practice, better manage risk, motivate employees, and improve the financial outlook in a medical office.

Topics: CMOM, PMI Certification, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager

How would you characterize the success of your medical office? Is it a steady flow of patients, low denials, providers that take an active role in the business, a great clinical and administrative team? How about the financial health of the practice? It’s hard to guide the ship in the right direction when you are too busy plugging holes in the galley.

Topics: Practice management, Practice cash flow, medical practice issues, financial management, patient billing, patient collections

Contract review is a delicate dance but doing your homework and negotiating for a better deal helps to achieve a better outcome, says healthcare attorney, Heidi Kocher, JD, MBA, CHC, of DC-based Law Firm, Liles Parker. Before you start the negotiation process, here are a few things to consider.

Topics: Practice management, contract negotiation, payer contract, carrier contract, value proposition, carrier contract guidelines, Heidi Kocher, medical practice benchmarking