Opinion
Seasonality
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Seasonality is yet another of those basic business concepts that most physicians have never heard of.
Opinion
Paid (and unpaid) time off
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
A major issue with PTO is the possibility that employees will resist staying home when they are actually sick.
Opinion
Long-term care insurance
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
To be sure, there is considerable debate about whether LTCI is worth the cost.
Opinion
When can I retire?
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Many of us lack a clear idea of where our retirement income will come from, or if it will be there when we arrive.
Opinion
Review your insurance
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Malpractice insurance requirements will remain fairly static throughout your career, but other insurance needs evolve over time. A good example is...
Opinion
Keep your staff current – and happy
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Like you, staff members provide better care to patients when they know the latest findings and techniques.
Opinion
Hiring the right employees
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Many of the personnel questions I receive concern the dreaded “marginal employee” – a person who has never done anything truly heinous to merit...
Opinion
Sexual harassment: Prevention and defense
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Medical offices are far from immune from harassment, of course, and the problem is not limited to staff interactions.
Opinion
Handling defamatory online reviews
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
The first thing to do before taking any action is determine whether that defamatory review is, in fact, defamatory.
Opinion
How to handle negative online reviews
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
It happens to all of us: You log onto the Internet one day and discover a scathing review from a disgruntled patient or family member.
Opinion
Firing patients
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
As with pretty much everything in a private practice, accurate and written documentation of dismissible behavior is essential.
Opinion
Terminating an employee
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Make it clear, when necessary, that the decision has already been made, so arguing or pleading will change nothing.
Opinion
Phone etiquette, part 2
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
A peer should never answer and then be expected to wait while your employee tracks you down.
Opinion
Addressing patients’ complaints
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
In the years since I last wrote about addressing patients’ complaints, the issues that prompt them have only...
Opinion
How well are your phones being answered?
- Author:
- Joseph S. Eastern, MD
Even now, in the era of texting and e-mail, the telephone remains our primary point of contact with new and long-time patients.