Shelly K. Schwartz

Honesty may be the best policy. But is complete truthfulness the compassionate course in every case? Here's what you need to know about the legal, ethical, and professional issues around withholding information from patients.

Do you have an emergency plan in place? You should. Our disaster-planning checklist gets you started.

Happy but worried, American physicians are sorting through the many changes their profession is seeing.

Charitable efforts in your office

A surprising number of patients withhold information from their doctors. Here’s how to identify patient dishonesty that compromises care.

Like most administrators, your education and experience have given you all the tools you need to help your practice succeed - Not that you’ll get the chance to prove it. When you find that your tasks are overwhelming your projects, that’s when it’s time to hire an assistant.

Employee fatigue and lack of engagement can be tricky problems for managers to combat. But there are ways to challenge and inspire your staff without breaking the bank. Here’s how to re-energize and recharge your team.

It’s hard to know how much is enough when it comes to recruiting and paying staff. Wouldn’t it be great if you knew what everyone else was paying their staff and could compare? Now you can. Our staff salary survey returns for a second year of national and regional salary stats, plus expert advice from seasoned veterans.

Want a sure way to make your staff feel valued while finding out what needs improvement? Just ask ’em. Here’s how to seek staff input.

Here's a primer to assist your medical practice maintain its patient records and avoid any legal troubles.

When a drug that you prescribe often is recalled, you’re going to get swamped with calls and questions. Better to have a recall response plan in place before trouble strikes.

Many practices use midlevel providers to care for patients with routine complaints. But it’s important to understand their legal scope of practice and necessary level of supervision.

It’s tough to get away from the office without worrying you’ll come back to a mountain of work. But taking time for yourself is crucial. Here’s advice on doing it right.

Here’s how practice administrators can help prepare your practice’s defense against a liability claim.

Most practices waste scads of money - then wonder why they need a microscope to see their bottom line. To keep you on the right road, we’ve posted the signs to a more efficient and productive practice.

Economic woes continue to pinch practices, and that sometimes leads to hard staffing decisions. Here’s how to handle your staff with care when payroll goes under the knife.

Considering starting a master’s program or getting the latest certification? Here’s the scoop on the benefits of continuing education and credentials for practice administrators.

Want to know how to boost your scores on those seemingly arbitrary online physician-rating sites? The sites aren’t going away, so you’ll need to know how to make the best of them.

Few administrators experience daily upheavals in their practices, but most are presented with a major transition at some point during their career. Are you ready?

Practice managers who are amicably leaving, be it for retirement or another opportunity, are often tasked with finding and training their own successor. Here’s some advice on this peculiar last act.

What are the secrets of success in an ever changing practice-management climate? Veteran administrators dish.

Times are tough, and layoffs may be unavoidable. If you must do it, here’s how to do it right - while protecting your practice from litigation.

In many practices, partner conflict is as common as nasal infections. It may be easy to “let it go,” but that can lead to unprofessional conduct. Here’s how to diffuse disagreements and preempt disputes.

A little price comparison can help you save big bucks on common goods and services.

Summer vacation season is upon us. Here’s how to keep your practice running when your skeleton crew asks for time off.

How to give your staff the recognition they deserve in a poor economy.

Whether you welcome or resent Web sites where patients rate physicians, it's clear that such sites aren't going away. Here's how to win the ratings game.

Not ready for an EMR? No problem. Start with baby steps to reduce your paper.

Building a team takes work, but it’s well worth the effort. Here’s how to avoid the “every-man-for-himself” mentality.

The economy is deteriorating. And healthcare is no longer “recession proof.” Here’s your guide for getting through the worst of times.