Related Stories

These Workplace Posters Should Be on Your Walls - 09/03/2024

Along with any decorative prints or motivational signs that might adorn the walls in the employees-only areas of your practice, posters about up to a dozen lawsmust be on display.


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.


Texas Administrative Code: Medical Disclosure Forms - 10/07/2022

Texas Administrative Code: Medical Disclosure Forms


Informed Consent - 10/07/2022

Informed Consent


How to Respond to a Subpoena - 10/07/2022

How to Respond to a Subpoena


Do Appointments Establish a Patient-Physician Relationship? - 10/07/2022

When a new patient makes an appointment with my office, does that establish a patient-physician relationship between the patient and me?


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.


Who Can Consent to Immunization of Minors? - 09/28/2022

Who in Texas can consent to immunization of minors?


Copy Fees for Mental Health Records - 09/28/2022

Do Texas Medical Board rules regarding fees for copying medical records apply to mental health records? TMA’s newly updated, free white paper answers this question about fees and more.


Surgeon’s Multimillion-Dollar Defamation Award Tossed by Texas Supreme Court - 05/16/2022

The Texas Supreme Court has nullified a $6.4 million jury verdict for a Houston cardiothoracic surgeon in his lawsuit alleging defamation and business disparagement by Memorial Hermann Hospital System.    


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.