The Office
Opinion
Sexual harassment: Prevention and defense
Medical offices are far from immune from harassment, of course, and the problem is not limited to staff interactions.
Opinion
Handling defamatory online reviews
The first thing to do before taking any action is determine whether that defamatory review is, in fact, defamatory.
Opinion
Firing patients
As with pretty much everything in a private practice, accurate and written documentation of dismissible behavior is essential.
Opinion
Terminating an employee
Make it clear, when necessary, that the decision has already been made, so arguing or pleading will change nothing.
Opinion
Phone etiquette, part 2
A peer should never answer and then be expected to wait while your employee tracks you down.
Opinion
Addressing patients’ complaints
Opinion
How well are your phones being answered?
Even now, in the era of texting and e-mail, the telephone remains our primary point of contact with new and long-time patients.
Opinion
The Sunshine Act, 5 years hence
The law’s questionable impact and apparent lack of enforcement do not mean you can ignore it. The data are still being collected and displayed.
Opinion
Don’t forget about OSHA
Failure to comply with OSHA regulations can result in stiff penalties running into many thousands of dollars.
Opinion
Employment practices liability insurance
All EPLI policies cover litigation against your practice and its owners by employees, but some cover only full-time workers.
Opinion
Credit cards FAQ
How do you safeguard the credit information you keep on file? The same way we do medical information; it's all covered by the same HIPAA rules.