The Journal of medical practice management : MPM
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This article offers 30 practical strategies that will keep a medical practice safe and secure. These strategies can serve as the core knowledge base for staff safety instruction programs and can be included in employee procedure manuals. ⋯ It suggests 10 additional safety do's and don'ts for your staff; including several pertaining to their dress and work habits. It also offers guidelines for planning and rehearsing an effective office evacuation procedure.
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Obtaining a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist is a common experience among patients. Differing definitions of what it means to "have a referral, "however, can lead to gaps between the service provided by the specialist and the expectations of the patients. Empirical research illustrates these varying definitions of "having a referral" among potential patients. The extent of confusion among a presumably educated sample of the patient population suggests that medical group managers should conduct a marketing audit of their policies and procedures to ensure that gaps in service delivery are removed.
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Most medical practices agree that an employee handbook is a great idea. Many, however, don't know how to write a good handbook. This article provides a helpful overview of the kinds of materials that should and should not be included in your practice's employee handbook. ⋯ It suggests the benefits and potential uses of a glossary in your employee handbook and provides an example of the terms that might be included in a medical practice glossary. This article also suggests the appropriate language and tone for employee handbooks and offers advice about distributing them so your staff will read and understand your personnel policies. Finally, the article offers a blueprint for creating your own employee handbook.
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This article addresses issues a physician should consider when responding to medical research gathered by a patient from the Internet, discussing both potential medical malpractice liability and offering specific, recommended responses for physicians whose patients conduct online medical research.