Staff

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.

We know that things are tough out there, but letting yourself get dejected does a disservice to you and your patients. Here are our tips for unwinding and re-energizing.

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.

Social networking is all the rage, but be wary if your staff are posting updates to Facebook. Setting a few ground rules can help avoid damage to your practice.

As December comes to a close, you realize that your practice has survived another year.

New technology is supposed to reduce your staffing needs. But how do you get staff on board with a change that may end up costing some of them their jobs?

If you don’t have a policy on staff e-mail usage, you need one. Here’s why.

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

Rumors of stricter enforcement of privacy and security rules have been heard before but this time there’s reason to believe that tougher scrutiny is indeed coming.

In the market for an EHR? Here’s a step-by-step selection guide by internist and pediatrician Rob Lamberts, who’s been through the process himself.

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.

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

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.

With the recession lingering on, many practices are feeling the sting of unfilled appointments caused by patients who have lost their jobs and insurance coverage.

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.

EHR companies are increasingly offering billing services, and vice versa. Is this just another way to squeeze money out of you, or does it make sense to combine the services?

One thing that creates friction in medical practices is the success and subsequent recognition of one of its members.