Employee policy and procedure manuals have been a necessity in offices for years, but are they really necessary?
If you are like most doctors offices, practicing in today’s busy healthcare environment, writing or updating policies is not at the top of your priority list. There is also a great deal of confusion regarding whether written policies are more helpful or hurtful to the office.
Having a well written policy and procedure manual, communicates clear expectations of your practice and staff.
In order for doctor’s to best help their patients, they must first have a smooth running practice. The more informed your employees are, the more efficiently your practice will operate.
Written policies and procedures are not legally required. However, having a formalized policy and procedure manual is simply a good idea. Employee and former employee lawsuits are from the lack of communication and unclear policy guidelines for employees and any management personnel.
Often, employees win workplace lawsuits when an employer takes action against them for violating company policy. This occurs because the employees are able to prove that they were not aware they were violating company policy. If policies do NOT exist or are unclear to the employee, the courts will most likely side with the employee. Thousands of dollars have been lost in legal judgment because of failure to inform or notify employees of company policies.
The importance of a Policy and Procedure manual is to familiarize your employees with your practice’s specific mission, expectations and benefits. While these manuals are not a contract, they do help to provide a clear, common understanding of your practice’s goals, benefits and policies, as well as what the practice expects with regard to staff performance and conduct.
Our website can be viewed at:
http://rs-medicalbilling.com
Friday, November 28, 2008
CAN TWO PEOPLE IN A RELATIONSHIP RUN A BUSINESS TOGETHER?
Working with a spouse or partner, is generally not an easy thing to accomplish, and you should set clear ground rules before working together. Even the happiest people do not always agree on everything, and this is particularly true when it comes to money and business. One of the reasons is that men and women make business decisions differently. While men are very good at problem solving, they are less likely to compromise to other solutions. Men are more likely to simply look at "facts" and less willing to look at the emotional components that often need to be factored into family-owned business decisions.
If your relationship is already rocky, working together is like getting a new kitty or puppy to try and renew the relationship, IT DOES NOT WORK and you end up with even more complications and reasons to disagree than before.
Be flexible in your ideas and ways, and expect to have compromise more than you would with an unrelated co-owner. Treat one another with the same or higher level of courtesy and respect, as you would anyone else you work with. Listen. Even if you disagree with your partner's ideas, always let them finish. If you cut them short, or are quick to criticize, you are likely to start a shouting match.
If you have a home based business, try to set the hours you will work and make an effort to stick to those hours. Let's say you set your hours between 9 AM-5 PM., and then a good idea would be not to take any business calls after those hours. Try to keep a separate room in your home to act as your office and shut the door when your work day ends. It is impossible to "leave it at the office" when your home IS your office. But you still need to spend time enjoying being a couple. It is important to remember that you are together for many reasons, not just for the business. Have "no business talk at dinner", certain nights of the week, or even better, make "dates" with your partner once a week. Only go into business with your partner if it is because you have planned to do so and you both want to work together.
Working with someone you care about can be a rewarding. Just remember not to let the little things come between your relationships and know that business is separate from your normal life. Working with someone you care about can be a rewarding. Just remember not to let the little things come between your relationships and know that business is separate from your normal life.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicalbilling.com/
If your relationship is already rocky, working together is like getting a new kitty or puppy to try and renew the relationship, IT DOES NOT WORK and you end up with even more complications and reasons to disagree than before.
Be flexible in your ideas and ways, and expect to have compromise more than you would with an unrelated co-owner. Treat one another with the same or higher level of courtesy and respect, as you would anyone else you work with. Listen. Even if you disagree with your partner's ideas, always let them finish. If you cut them short, or are quick to criticize, you are likely to start a shouting match.
If you have a home based business, try to set the hours you will work and make an effort to stick to those hours. Let's say you set your hours between 9 AM-5 PM., and then a good idea would be not to take any business calls after those hours. Try to keep a separate room in your home to act as your office and shut the door when your work day ends. It is impossible to "leave it at the office" when your home IS your office. But you still need to spend time enjoying being a couple. It is important to remember that you are together for many reasons, not just for the business. Have "no business talk at dinner", certain nights of the week, or even better, make "dates" with your partner once a week. Only go into business with your partner if it is because you have planned to do so and you both want to work together.
Working with someone you care about can be a rewarding. Just remember not to let the little things come between your relationships and know that business is separate from your normal life. Working with someone you care about can be a rewarding. Just remember not to let the little things come between your relationships and know that business is separate from your normal life.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicalbilling.com/
THE PRACTICE OF BEING ORGANIZED IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE
Many medical personnel underestimate the importance of being organized. Being organized not only helps you make better use of your time, it also allows you to focus your energy and direct your attention toward what is important, your patients.
One of the most functional elements of being organized is developing routine and organized habits. You should make a habit of specific times and days of the week to do certain office duties. For an example, I choose one day during the week to do all filing. I do billing on a daily basis and do accounting once a week. If I get a call from a provider asking for a certain report, I will be able to supply that report to them within minutes, due to having everything organized and right at my fingertips when needed. Being organized is a state of mind.
Personally, I am the type of person that likes to get things done right away. I do not like to procrastinate. I do not like to have documents or other items of importance cluttered on my desk. Too much clutter can get important documents misplaced. I prefer to put into practice good time management and I am always looking for ways to save time.
Organizing is a process. People who are organized…. work at being organized. Don’t become discouraged, good organization will come in time.
The secret of a well organized medical office is to start organizing a little at a time and to be aware of what it means to you to be organized.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicabilling.com
One of the most functional elements of being organized is developing routine and organized habits. You should make a habit of specific times and days of the week to do certain office duties. For an example, I choose one day during the week to do all filing. I do billing on a daily basis and do accounting once a week. If I get a call from a provider asking for a certain report, I will be able to supply that report to them within minutes, due to having everything organized and right at my fingertips when needed. Being organized is a state of mind.
Personally, I am the type of person that likes to get things done right away. I do not like to procrastinate. I do not like to have documents or other items of importance cluttered on my desk. Too much clutter can get important documents misplaced. I prefer to put into practice good time management and I am always looking for ways to save time.
Organizing is a process. People who are organized…. work at being organized. Don’t become discouraged, good organization will come in time.
The secret of a well organized medical office is to start organizing a little at a time and to be aware of what it means to you to be organized.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicabilling.com
A Healthy & Stressless Office
We all experience stress at one time or another. Stress is s normal reaction to any type of change. It affects our bodies, emothins, thoughts and behaviors. The effect of stress can be positive, negative or a combination of the two. For example stress can motivate you and improve your concentration, or it can paralyze your ability ot accomplish anything at all.
Here are some common signs of symptoms of stress:
* Headache, dizziness
* Rapid heartbeat
* Fatigue
* Stomach aches or nausea
* Mood swings
* Anxiety
* Thinking the same thing over and over again
* Trouble concentrating
* Loneliness
* Helplessness
* Dread of going to work
* Sadness
* Depression
* Sleeping habits
* Changing in eating haibits
* Feeling of pressure or pressed for time
Some of these things you maybe able to change, other are not under your control. Below are some tips that may reduce the developing of stress:
* Don't try to make too many changes or accomplish too much at once. Make a
list of priorities, break things down into manageable pices, set limts.
* Participate actively in staff meetings. Ask questions and make suggestions
that may help the office run more smoothly.
* Make sure you understand your job taks and performance standards.
* Make sure your job is a good match for your skills and values.
* Take a break from whatever is causing your stress. Don't forget to laught, play
and have fun.
* Take care of yourself. Maintain a healthy diet. Exercise, and get enough sleep
* Take a brief break walk away from your office. The change of scenery and
social support cvan make a difference.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicalbilling.com/
Here are some common signs of symptoms of stress:
* Headache, dizziness
* Rapid heartbeat
* Fatigue
* Stomach aches or nausea
* Mood swings
* Anxiety
* Thinking the same thing over and over again
* Trouble concentrating
* Loneliness
* Helplessness
* Dread of going to work
* Sadness
* Depression
* Sleeping habits
* Changing in eating haibits
* Feeling of pressure or pressed for time
Some of these things you maybe able to change, other are not under your control. Below are some tips that may reduce the developing of stress:
* Don't try to make too many changes or accomplish too much at once. Make a
list of priorities, break things down into manageable pices, set limts.
* Participate actively in staff meetings. Ask questions and make suggestions
that may help the office run more smoothly.
* Make sure you understand your job taks and performance standards.
* Make sure your job is a good match for your skills and values.
* Take a break from whatever is causing your stress. Don't forget to laught, play
and have fun.
* Take care of yourself. Maintain a healthy diet. Exercise, and get enough sleep
* Take a brief break walk away from your office. The change of scenery and
social support cvan make a difference.
Our website is located at:
http://rs-medicalbilling.com/
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