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

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

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

Lots of healthcare organizations say their core values reflect a diverse and inclusive workplace but fall flat in implementation. A diverse workplace must be welcoming of all individuals, no matter their ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation. More than a mission statement, everyone in your medical office plays an active role in its successful integration. In this post, we discuss what it takes to create a strong workplace culture of diversity and inclusion and why you must elevate its presence in your medical office.

Topics: Practice management, medical office manager topics, medical practice issues, diversity and inclusion

Mix together long hours, hectic schedules, heavy caseloads, COVID-19 chaos, and office politics, and you get a toxic recipe for medical practice burnout. Don't ignore these signs! Medical office managers can reduce the effects of stress and burnout with strategies that support providers and staff. Learn best practices to avoid burnout, protect your practice, and increase patient satisfaction.

Topics: Practice management, time management, medical office manager topics, medical practice issues, medical office staff, administrative burdens

Practice Management Institute (PMI) and Gastrologix have partnered to develop a Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM)® certification specific to the specialty of Gastroenterology. This joint effort will provide affordable medical practice specific training and credentialing opportunities for the Gastrologix membership throughout the country. 

Topics: value proposition, medical practice benchmarking, CMOM, PMI Certification, medical office certification, Certified Medical Office Manager, medical office

Practice Management Instructor/Consultant Linda D’Spain is on the mend. Last summer she suffered a serious fall that fractured her pelvis. A casualty of warfare, she might say. But not the type you would think.

Topics: emergency preparedness