http://www.vmo.net.au/ Virtual Medical Office Articles http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10913 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10913 New laws affecting those who perform bookkeeping and BAS services on behalf of a business were introduced in March 2010 and provide for clearer regulation in the provision of BAS services. These new laws require providers of BAS related services be a registered Tax and/or BAS agent in order to continue to provide those services for a fee or other reward. This legislation does not apply to employees preparing their employer’s... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9056 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9056 Marketing is more often, than not, viewed as one of the less important factors of a medical practice. However, a Marketing Plan will provide a medical practice with a systematic approach to creating services which will meet the needs of its patients. The Marketing Plan should comply with the SMART principles – specific, measurable, accurate, realistic and timely and be incorporated into the practice Business Plan. (If you... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9055 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9055 “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction” - Winston Churchill Progressive healthcare Practice Managers are constantly looking at ways to improve efficiencies and services. Changes in the healthcare system can often be thrust upon us or self imposed and facilitating change can often be a daunting task. However, successful implementation can only be supported by a strong plan, and a commitment... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9054 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9054 Last November I attended an AAPM conference in Sydney and one of the topics was work life balance. As a full-time working mum, I skipped that one with the attitude that unless I have a personal assistant, private banker, nanny and a housekeeper – work/life balance was a pipe dream. However in the last couple of weeks I have discovered (light bulb moment) it is my own attitude and not external factors that can make this happen. I... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9053 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9053 With current economic hardships being felt by many, it is critical that practices ensure their financial policies and procedures are in order. Extraordinary circumstances can often result in unexpected acts of desperation and it is critical that practices ensure that opportunities for committing fraud are minimised. Regular, impromptu audits along with undertaking some or all of the following suggestions can prove effective in both... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9052 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9052 Practice Managers in Healthcare today need to be skilled leaders and coaches, not just conduits to facilitate the day to day requirements of monitoring, measurement and change management. Whilst measuring and monitoring how a practice is performing is crucial it should not be the only focus in a Practice Manager’s working day. Healthcare Practice Managers who embrace the concepts of leadership and coaching will not only survive,... http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9051 http://www.vmo.net.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9051 Once upon a time, paper-based records lived happily in the office. Then in the 1990s, Microsoft huffed and puffed and starting blowing the paper away. Doing a ‘back up” became policy and procedure and we couldn’t live without our floppy disks .......... Today, we use technology as a practice improvement strategy like never before. Practitioners can access patient records over the internet in a matter of seconds...