Private Practice

A lot of time is spent discussing HIPAA and its place in the world of information security and patient data access. Now, there seems to be a new conversation emerging on the topic: HIPAA may be affecting patient engagement efforts. [cont...]

Did you know the person sitting at your front desk could be your patient's first impression of your practice? This vital team member does more than just deal with check in​, help with insurance questions, and answer phones. They also handle extremely sensitive information and ensure patients feel comfortable about their appointments. A great medical receptionist understands their role as a practice ambassador and can maintain a mature, discreet, professional demeanor even under pressure. [cont...]

Implementing policy, streamlining workflows, and keeping everything in your medical practice neatly organized while working with doctors and staff is no easy task. A medical practice manager takes on a great deal of responsibility and the skill set required for the job is a nuanced one. Here are 3 things that every successful medical manager will tell you. [cont...]

There are many reasons why patients fail to show up to their physician's appointments. People are human, after all, and sometimes this is the result of basic forgetfulness. Other times, people fear what the doctor may tell them, and - to their detriment - fail to  attend their appointments. Different offices have their own protocols for patient appointment reminders. Some may be more effective than others, but no office wants to lose time and money because patients are not showing up. [cont...]

If your practice sees a wide range or patient traffic, chances are you have some younger and older individuals coming in for treatment. It is common to design a waiting area for those who are infirm or immobile, but what about the youngest members of the population? Too frequently, this space is only welcoming to adult patients, many of whom have cell phones or can entertain themselves. There tend to be few or sparse accommodations made for children. [cont...]

No one employed at a physician's office enjoys the task of chasing down patients for late or overdue payments. It can be stressful, putting both the patient and the practice manager in awkward positions. Sometimes people lack the money, yet don't want to admit their financial situation. Other times, patients have been distracted by certain unfavorable circumstances, and the bill reminder is another stressor. Staff  can also be overwhelmed with work-related tasks, and calling patients to tell them to pay bills can add to the "to-do" list. [cont...]

Oh, the growing awareness of the wide variation in healthcare prices, increased availability of price data and increased patient cost sharing was expected to drive patients to shop for lower-cost medical services. [cont...]

What most have known, the role of a medical practice administrator goes well beyond identifying best practices and finding ways to implement them, but, according to a new report by MGMA, they must identify where practice staff can benefit from additional education and training, and maybe even improving customer service efforts. [cont...]

United States first-year medical school enrollment has increased by 28 percent since 2002, a huge number over a long period of time. In 2016, 88,304 medical students were enrolled, compared to 81,934 medical students in 2012, and according to current and previous physicians censuses between 2015 and 2016, reflects an increase of 12 percent in the number of physicians licensed to practice medicine throughout the country. [cont...]

In July, the AMGA announced its findings from its annual physician compensation survey, the 2017 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey, the 30th annual report of its kind. The report shows that 77 percent of physician specialties experienced increases in compensation and the overall weighted average increase in 2016 compensation was 2.9 percent, slightly less than the 3.1 increase experienced in 2015. [cont...]