Human Resources

Practice E-Tips on Human Resources - 08/30/2023

E-Tips on Human Resources

PAs and APRNs: How Do These Midlevels Differ? - 08/30/2023

Physicians interested in hiring a midlevel practitioner for their practice sometimes wonder whether they should hire a physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse. Here’s the basic difference between the two.

Top Three Reasons Embezzlement Occurs - 10/11/2022

Medical practices suffer from one of the highest embezzlement rates of all service industries.Several factors can contribute to embezzlement. The top three are opportunity, pressure, and rationalization.

Difficult to Keep Front Office Staff? - 10/11/2022

Difficult to keep front office staff?

Did That Employee Quit, or Did You Fire Her? - 10/11/2022

The question of whether an employee quit or was fired is very important if the ex-employee files for unemployment benefits. It determines who has the burden of proof in the case. These tips from the Texas Workforce Commission can help you keep the onus of proof off you.

Can I Refuse to Hire a Smoker to Work in My Practice? - 10/11/2022

The Texas Workforce Commission recommends addressing your concerns through policy.

Training Under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard - 10/07/2022

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says you have to train all employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Here is clarification about how that regulation translates into practice in a medical office.

Notice to Patients on the Departure of a Physician - 10/07/2022

When a physician departs a group, the practice should consider the issue of continuity of care for patients. The Texas Medical Board (TMB), in an attempt to address this, adopted regulations that must be followed whenever a physician leaves a group. This applies to physicians who are partners, members, or employees of the group.

Four Bill-Collecting Tips for New (or Any) Practices - 02/01/2022

Starting a practice can be daunting, and one challenge often overlooked is making sure you get paid. Although only a small number of patients will not pay you, or will pay slowly, they can hurt your bottom line. Writing off thousands of dollars in charges should not be an option.

Stop Embezzlement Before It Starts - 10/28/2021

Embezzlement occurs in medical practices more often than you might think. Follow these tips to reduce the potential for cash embezzlement in your practice.

Sixteen Ways to Save Money in Your Practice - 09/23/2021

Looking for ways to trim practice expenses? Here are some easy suggestions for saving a little here and a little there. It can add up.

Why You Should Conduct Background Checks - 09/17/2021

Starbucks does it. The company routinely conducts a background check when it makes a tentative job offer to any candidate for employment. Medical practices should do so, too.

Eight Reasons Your New Employee Didn’t Work Out - 09/17/2021

Hiring the right employee isn’t an easy job, nor a particularly fun one. You don’t want to do it all over again in a couple of months because your recent new hire didn’t work out. If that happened to you, here are some things you may have done wrong.

Interview Candidates the Smart Way - 09/08/2021

When interviewing candidates for your practice staff, it’s a good idea to work from prepared questions. Here’s why.

Try These Budget-Friendly Ways to Motivate Your Staff - 09/08/2021

Employees value many things as much as — maybe even more than — the amount of money you pay them. Respect, recognition, and pride in what they do are basic but powerful motivators. Here are some no-cost, low-cost ways to help your staff bloom.

Paying Employees for Lunch Break - 09/08/2021

Does your practice have clear policies regarding rest and meal breaks for hourly (nonexempt) employees?

What Hinders a Medical Office Staff’s Productivity? - 09/07/2021

When making staffing decisions, evaluate how productive staff members are. Examine support staffers, especially clinical support staff, to see what factors might impede their ability to get patients ready for you to see.

Hiring the Right Person for Your Practice - 09/07/2021

Hiring right is not a matter of chance. Follow these nine steps for hiring success.

Hiring a Nonphysician Practitioner? First Step: Set Parameters - 08/20/2021

Establishing general practice parameters for NPPs in your practice makes the employment arrangement a smoother one.

Can I Convert an Hourly Employee to a Salary? - 07/22/2021

I have an hourly billing clerk who often ends up working overtime. I can cut costs by giving her a raise and putting her on salary. Do labor laws allow this?

Relief Package Extends Employee Health Insurance Benefits: What You Should Know - 04/21/2021

If your practice has had to terminate or reduce staff hours – causing them to lose their health insurance benefits – the latest federal COVID-19 relief package includes an extension of COBRA benefits that allows employees to stay on a company-sponsored health plan through September.

Ask the Expert About: Human Resources Issues During the Pandemic - 04/01/2021

Don’t miss the next edition of the Texas Medical Association’s “Ask the Expert” virtual series – Human Resources and Employment Issues in the COVID Era – scheduled for 6 pm (CT) Thursday, April 8.

Tips and Strategies for Managing Remote Staff - 07/31/2020

If your practice is considering letting staff work remotely – or if it already has employees who do – the Texas Medical Association has created a course that provides tips and strategies to successfully manage those employees.

Don’t Hold Patient Credit Balances Past 30 Days - 12/11/2019

Have lingering patient credit balances on your books? Here’s how the law says to handle them.

How to Handle Patient Confrontations - 10/29/2019

Try this three-step assertive response to patients who become angry,stubborn, manipulative,and even abusive.