Hiring Firing

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.

If your practice is cash strapped and you are thinking about cutting staff, consider other options first. Check out our relatively painless suggestions for lowering your practice overhead.

After many months and much debate, healthcare reform in America is now a reality.

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.

Everyone wants a trustworthy financial planner, but how to find one? Here’s your guide to asking the right questions.

A new employee is typically hired based on the strength of her skills and experience. What's frequently overlooked, however, is how well her personality fits with the practice culture.

It is important to take the time to review the rules with your staff, so that everyone understands exactly what incident-to billing requires.

Thinking of leaving your practice? Plan ahead to avoid problems with malpractice insurance, non-compete clauses, and other issues.

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.

You thought your retirement plan was secure. Your portfolio was on track. Then Wall Street tanked. Take heart, there are lots of options for physicians who are close to retirement. Read our un-retirement primer.

Are you prepared for a personal financial emergency? Theories abound on how big your back-up stash should be. Here’s how much you should be putting away at each stage of your career.

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.

Considering outsourcing the business side of your practice to a revenue cycle management firm? Let someone deal with the claims and collections headaches … right? Maybe. We examine the pros, cons, expenses, and benefits.

In the wake of a “reformed” healthcare system, here’s how to take steps now to get your practice ready for an influx of newly insured Americans.

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.

A lingering recession and declining reimbursement make for stormy weather for practices. Check out our suggestions for how to stay dry - and in the black.

In times when medical reimbursements are dropping and pressures are increasing for physicians, the need for a well-functioning office is greater than ever.

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?

An internal medicine specialist was fleeced badly by the Mother of all Embezzlers. Don’t think it can’t happen to you until you read what happened to her.

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.

Hospital-doctor bundling schemes are a near-certainty in any healthcare reform. Will physicians get the short end of the stick?

Is your IT guy too powerful? In a small office, just one staffer often holds the keys to the kingdom. What if he quits abruptly - or worse, holds you hostage?

You’ve got questions - lots of ’em. And we’ve got the answers. We compiled some of the most common practice management questions we hear - from collections issues to dealing with staff problems and so much more - in one place, and got answers from some of the top experts in the business.

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.

Are you a small office skating by on IT? Here’s why paying for a quarterly IT checkup might save you big bucks in the long run.

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

Deciding how much to dole out to support staff can be tricky, especially in a difficult economy. But our survey of more than 1,000 practices nationwide will help guide you.

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

Dismissing an employee is always an unpleasant event. But when that employee is a physician, it’s also complicated and potentially legally risky. Here’s how to avoid the pitfalls.