SMORGASBORD OF MANAGEMENT TIDBITS

Many thoughts and ideas that I want to share with you in these postings occur to me on a daily basis; some related, some random.  Every once in a while, my “Share-This File” simply spills over, demanding to be written as blogs that might be helpful or interesting to our readers, no matter how varied in content---hence, the title Smorgasbord (defined as a buffet meal with a large number of varied dishes).  

A smorgasbord of management pearls follows:

·        It is time to write your practice budget for 2017.  Using a budget to plot and monitor your practice expenses (overhead) is one of the most effective tools for maximizing your profits.  If you’ve never written a budget for your practice, begin now.  I guarantee you will marvel at the control you gain over your practice financial management with this relatively simple tool, an annual budget.  Last week’s blog provided details of the process. 

·        Online “Phishing” scams are on the increase and, unfortunately, dentists, physicians, attorneys, and other professionals are likely targets.  Be wary of internet inquiries sent in the name of a business with which you are not familiar.  By impersonating a business, internet crooks can often trick you or your staff into responding with personal information or clicking on a link or attachment that causes malware to be downloaded to your practice computer.  For more information, visit ADA Center for Professional Success.ADA.org and search in the Practice Management menu, clicking on Technology to find “phishing” and access information via your member login.  Or go to the Federal Trade Commission website, clicking on Scam Alerts and search “phishing.” 

·        Protected Health Information (PHI) is a fertile field of attack for cyber criminals.  Theft of PHI typically results from insecure sites, stolen mobile devices, or malware-infected computers.  Accessing your office computer system, thieves can steal your patients’ personal data as well as health records, and you, Dr., may be punished for the thieves’ success.  Two suggestions: (1) employ a skilled computer consultant, either in-office or out-sourced, to assure regular security risk assessments (SRAs) are conducted in your office and (2) investigate storage of patient data in the cloud VS in an office server.  Cloud computing is cost effective and a much safer way to protect patient health information.

·         And for your philosophical moments, four of my favorite quotations:

o    Coach Vince Lombardi – “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”

o    Author-philosopher John Maxwell – “He who thinks he is a leader but has no one following is only taking a walk.”

o    Saint Francis of Assisi (a paraphrase) – “Teach good character without ceasing; use words if you must.”

o    Practicon’s Product Development Division – “Our mission is to develop exciting products that are relevant and useful in everyday practice.”