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Practice e-Tips on Technology - 07/25/2023

TMA Practice e-Tips on issues such as electronic medical records (EMRs), and buying technology for your practice.

Patient-Physician Electronic Communication - 07/20/2023

Patient-Physician Electronic Communication, Report of the Council on Communication to the House of Delegates, May 2003

TMA Member Benefits: Future Proof - 07/19/2023

TMA Member Benefits: Future Proof In the past year, cyberattacks on healthcare facilities have increased by 35%. The cost of a breach can average of $402 per compromised record, plus fines. TMA makes robust security for your practice easy through education and services designed to manage the worst technology risks.

Getting Another Shot: Physicians Combat Post-COVID Vaccine Hesitancy - 07/29/2022

Thousands of Texas children are getting back-to-school vaccinations before starting the new academic year. As they do, Texas physicians see evidence that skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccines has turned into skepticism about all types of vaccines, infecting once-healthy public perceptions about childhood immunizations.

Countering Controversy: How to Have Difficult Conversations with Patients - 07/29/2022

New CME from the Texas Medical Association shows physicians how to address tough topics with patients.

Communicating With Patients Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing - 09/23/2021

The Americans With Disabilities Act requires you do whatever necessary to ensure “effective communication” with deaf or hard-of-hearing patients. Here are some tips to help you do this.

Ten Tips for Effective Voice-Mail Messages - 09/23/2021

Voice mail is a great tool, but it can waste time and cause frustration if you don’t use it wisely. Follow these tips for leaving effective voice-mail messages every time.

I Think I'll Wait: Talking Through Vaccine Hesitancy - 05/02/2021

How to validate patients’ concerns and promote COVID-19 vaccination.

Free Google Tools That Give Your Practice a Boost - 04/22/2021

Google is more than just a search engine, it’s a marketing machine with robust tools you can leverage to grow your practice. These tips from TMA-approved vendor Officite look at several of those tools and how you can make them work for you.

Learn Effective Communication Skills During Free Live Webinar - 02/12/2021

If you would like a deeper understanding of how to communicate effectively, tune in to the Texas Medical Association virtual webinar: Communicating Across Barriers. The webinar, which is accredited for CME, is scheduled for 6 to 7 pm (CT) Thursday, Feb. 25

Dedicated Cellular Network Open to Physicians Responding to COVID-19 - 03/24/2020

Physicians and other licensed health care professionals are now eligible to join FirstNet, the nation’s only public safety wireless broadband network.

Microsoft Windows, Server Systems Vulnerable to Hackers, Feds Warn - 01/17/2020

Texas physicians should look out for a security weakness in Microsoft Windows 10, Server 2016, and Server 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said this week.

Changes Coming to Certain Informed Consent Forms - 01/02/2020

The Texas Medical Disclosure Panel has adopted changes to two informed consent forms, which will take effect at the beginning of 2020. The panel made amendments to its Disclosure and Consent for Medical Care and Surgical Procedures form and its Disclosure and Consent for Hysterectomy form.

Laptop Encryption Helps You Stay HIPAA Compliant - 12/19/2019

If you or your practice store financial or patient information on laptop computers, you could face hefty fines if those devices are lost or stolen. Thankfully, one important step toward protecting patient data, and yourself, is simple thanks to widely available encryption tools.

Looking to Implement Remote Patient Monitoring Technology In Your Practice? - 11/08/2019

How do you successfully implement remote patient monitoring technology in your practice? Answers to that question and many more can be found in the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) Digital Health Implementation Playbook.

Medical Devices Could Be Vulnerable to Hackers, FDA Warns - 10/02/2019

Certain medical devices and hospital communications networks could contain cybersecurity vulnerabilities that could allow a remote attacker to take control of the device and change its function, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned on Tuesday.

Why You Need to Prepare for Voice Search - 05/31/2019

Voice search, such as through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Siri, is becoming an essential part of modern life. In fact, 72% of voice device owners use it as part of their daily routine. Neglecting this growing technology could cause your practice to miss out on potential patients. But adapting a voice-first mindset could help you attract new patients and stay connected to current ones.

These Five Stages Define Colleague Relationships - 11/15/2018

Healthy workplace relationships are born of mutual trust. This applies to your peers, superiors, and the people you manage. As these relationships evolve, you have to work at keeping them productive and fulfilling, especially once the getting-to-know-you phase has come and gone.

16 Ways to Stay Cyber Secure - 04/19/2018

More than four-fifths of physicians have experienced some sort of cyber attack in their practice, according to a survey published by the American Medical Association. Many attacks could have been avoided with internal controls and staff training.

Ransomware: Are Your Medical Records Safe From Attack? - 02/08/2018

Thousands of physicians lost access to patient records due to the Allscripts ransomware attack at the electronic health record (EHR) vendor’s Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., data centers Jan. 18. This is a good time to review and update contingency plans so your practice will be prepared if patient information is not available at the point of care.

How Physicians Can Help With Collections - 04/20/2017

Even if you have a business manager or office manager to “handle the money” for your practice, you, the physician, have an important role in billing and collections.

Avoid the Jargon - 06/23/2016

A dictionary tool from the University of Michigan suggests plain-language alternatives to both medical and nonmedical words you might often use in your practice.

Tips for an Effective Practice Website - 06/23/2016

Tips for an Effective Practice Web Site