► An organization designed to proactively support the delivery of quality Osteopathic Medicine to Texans through osteopathic medical practices.
► A peer-driven organization for the training and support of office managers working in uniquely osteopathic medicine environments and to facilitate the administrative operation and efficiency of osteopathic medicine practices.
As medical practices continue to become more and more business-intense, it is critical to have administrative staff that learn and keep up with all the intricacies and requirements. Office managers, and other administrative staff, are primarily responsible for the details of the day-to-day administrative operations of a physician’s practice. A well-trained and properly prepared office manager is a key to such integral functions as billing, staffing, medical records, compliance with various regulations, and record-keeping.
TOMA is developing a new tool to help in the success of physicians’ practices. An organization is being formed for office managers and other administrative staff of osteopathic physicians’ offices.
This organization offers a means to help our physicians and their office staff stay ahead of the curve and be successful. It will also be a resource for the training and support for new office managers or those needing experience. This support system for the administrative operations of a practice will be a new benefit to members of TOMA.
Activities of the Organization:
The organization will utilize the knowledge and experience of its members to serve as faculty for educational sessions and to serve as peer support for members, through activities such as:
1. Educational and training sessions for office managers and other administrative staff in the broad array of office operations, procedures, and requirements;
a. Topics will be as determined by the needs of its members or by the employing osteopathic physicians,
b. Meetings are held In conjunction with scheduled TOMA meetings,
c. Meetings may beheld on a regional basis, to facilitate cost effective attendance,
d. Sessions may also be held in conjunction with district meetings.
e. Meetings may also be held via conference call and Internet-based sessions.
2. Facilitate the availability of the latest and best information available in operational fields, such as reimbursement, billing procedures, coding, office procedures, personnel management, medical records management, payor regulations and procedures, risk management, purchasing, E.H.R., HIPAA, and any other area of interest or need.
3. Peer-to-peer support and consultation services in order to help individual members better succeed in their practice environments.
4. Periodic orientation sessions for new osteopathic office managers.
5. Develop and produce training manuals and materials for osteopathic office managers and distribute them.
Membership and participation is open to office managers and other administrative staff designated by practicing osteopathic physicians and to business representatives associated with practice services.
Membership dues:
Member whose osteopathic physician is a member of TOMA $ Not yet set
Member whose osteopathic physician is not a member of TOMA $ Not yet set
Business member, vendor $ Not yet set
Educational institution, training program or other $ Not yet set
Membership dues paid for a member by a qualifying business may qualify that
expense and expenses related to education and training as a business expense,
though such determination should be made by a qualified tax expert or the IRS.
Do you have an office manager or administrative staff that you would like to have involved in this organization? Do you have one that could help lend his or her expertise to help the organization’s organization and activities?
The organization is formed around its volunteer members, select leaders, and function as a subsidiary of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA).
Organizational Relationship to TOMA:
1. The organization will provide such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association on a regular basis;
2. Such reports will include reports on activities, information that osteopathic physicians may need in order to facilitate more efficient or effective practices;
3. The organization will be represented by a representative as an ex-officio consultant to the Board of Trustees of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association;
4. The organization will assist/participate in the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association activities, as appropriate and as permitted by the employing osteopathic physician, such as the annual convention, mid-winter conference, D.O. Day at the Capitol, and others;
Educational topics:
A number of topics for educational sessions have been identified; these include:
Collections – policies and procedures
Billing and coding
Chart auditing
Inventory management and control procedures
Personnel management – policies and procedures
HIPPA
OSHA regulations
Access to resources – where does the office manager get the policies,
procedures, rules, manuals, forms, templates, successful office \
management techniques, laws and regulations, etc, that are needed on a
daily basis for a successful business operation
Electronic Health Record (E.H.R)
Marketing
Manuals
Information on insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and other payor programs
Personnel Policies, job descriptions
How to negotiate with insurance and managed care companies
How to incorporate
How to find and recruit allied health professionals
Technology – what to buy and how to evaluate
Group health insurance
Other activities that have been suggested:
Networking with other office managers and administrative staff
Starter Packet for new office managers
Office Managers 101 training course
Consulting services for new office managers
How to start a practice, set up accounts, billing, coding, deadlines
Pool of temporary staff available to fill in when a practice loses a key employee
Online question and answer service; list of other office managers willing to take
calls and help other office managers
Central repository for administrative resources
For more information, call:
Sam Tessen, Executive Director
Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA)
Phone: 800. 444.8662
Email: sam@txosteo.org
Fax: 512.708.1415
Web: www.txosteo.org/
Current Office Managers available to answer questions and provide assistance:
Kelly Skinner, Eastland, TX,
Phone: (254) 629-3393; Email: kellyskinner@hotmail.com