Health Law

Urgent message: Whether due to reduced staffing needs or employee preference, some employees in urgent care are no longer scheduled for full-time hours. Changing from full-time to part-time status, however, may have consequences beyond simply working fewer hours. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is President of Experity Consulting. There are any number of reasons why an urgent care owner or operator might want to change the status of an employee from full-time to part-time. Generally speaking, an employer is permitted to do so for any reason whatsoever.1 Pros of Hiring …
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Click Here to download the PDF. Urgent message: As the severity of newer strains of SARS-CoV-2 has decreased, many patients and providers have become less vigilant about COVID-19. Yet COVID-19 remains among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. Failure to diagnose and, if eligible, treat patients with COVID-19 may result in significant harm. Professional liability is less likely, however, given the current governmental protections in place. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is President of Experity Consulting and is Senior Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine …
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Urgent message: Given that x-ray is a differentiating feature of “urgent care” and the current challenges in recruiting and retaining licensed RTs, a logical question for urgent care operators is the extent to which x-ray tasks can be delegated. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is President of Experity Consulting and is Practice Management Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. “The only people who can touch an x-ray machine are those who are certified to do so….” That’s what some states say to the question of who may take …
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X-rays are high on the list of services patients expect urgent care centers to provide when needed. Currently, however, a dearth of qualified technicians can make guaranteeing that they can do so somewhat challenging. The November issue of JUCM will start an in-depth discussion of how the industry can best approach meeting that challenge for the benefit of the patient and the individual operator. One essential part of that discussion will be answering the question of who, exactly, can perform x-rays in the urgent care center. Qualifications aside, the answer …
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Urgent message: People are unlikely to trust their healthcare to a provider with a sullied reputation, so speaking ill of a provider can cost them in terms of patient revenue or future employment opportunities. Understanding the causes and defenses for defamation can help you protect your reputation and your business. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc We live in a nation where the First Amendment should protect “free speech,” particularly among public figures. Yet, Google “defamation lawsuit” and you’ll find the news full of instances in which the ability to share …
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