An effective medical practice manager possesses a wide range of business and interpersonal skills. He or she must also hold the ability to transition from one function to another many times in any given day. In other words, practice managers wear a lot of hats!

A practice manager’s performance is vital to the overall success of a practice and has a tremendous impact on how efficiently a practice operates.

The following list–excerpted from the HR Help Disc–can serve as a starting point for a practice manager’s job description. It can also be used as a reference in the event that your practice is recruiting a manager.

Here are 15 essential functions of an effective medical practice manager…

• Establishes with physician(s) (and DoctorsManagement, if a DM client) the medical office’s mission and goals in response to changing economic and community needs.
• Recommends, develops, and updates strategic and long-range plans to support the medical office’s philosophy and goals. Includes financial, administrative, staffing, and medical goals.
• Informs physician(s) in routine meetings about overall practice management issues, and addresses current and/or changing trends, problems, and activities in healthcare.
• Manages the practice within the established budget.
• Establishes and recommends credit and collection policies. Makes recommendations for improvement.
• Monitors and develops new procedures and staff assignments to improve the quality and quantity of work processed.
• Solves difficult payment and associated billing problems.
• Assures training and orientation of all staff, and ensures that the team maintains a service-oriented atmosphere with patients, public and other staff members.
• Participates with physician(s) (and DoctorsManagement, if a DM client) to evaluate employee performance and recommend merit increases, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
• Initiates and answers pertinent correspondence. Prepares and writes reports.Maintains required records and files.
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with established policies and procedures for OSHA and HIPAA. Includes the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, OSHA Hazard
• Communication Standard, HIPAA Omnibus Rule (enforcement begins September 2013), and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA).
• Routinely plans and directs with physician(s) general staff meetings and in-service programs. This includes routine meetings with nurses regarding lab and other matters.
• Keeps physicians and staff timely informed (as appropriate) of their weekly schedule including changes in appointments, billing, insurance, and staffing.
• Is responsible for accounts payable, payroll, and tax information. This includes producing a monthly aged accounts receivable report for each physician.
• Is responsible for bank deposits, maintaining a balanced checkbook, maintaining current personnel records and posting current versions of all federal and state notifications.

Interested in improving your medical practice productivity?

Talk with one of our advisors to learn how you can increase profits and improve employee morale for your practice. Use the link above or contact us via email or phone at 800-635-4040.