NP Business Tip: Are your employees also your patients?

Have you ever had a staff member pull you aside in the hall to ask if you'd just take a second to look in their throat or listen to their lungs? Perhaps they want you to take a quick look at their child's ear? Maybe, as part of the benefit package, you offer these services to your staff members.

There are several potential complications that can arise from these encounters including privacy issues, implied "special treatment" and conflict of interests among other issues. Having a clear policy in place about treatment of employees and their families will help prevent problems in the long run.

Questions you will want to consider when establishing a policy for your office.

1. How will privacy be maintained? How will you monitor it?
2. Consider having a policy abolishing hallway consults.
3. Do you want your employees to be seen on their own time?
4. If this is done as an employee benefit, how will you do that? Free visits? Discounts? Make sure you are following the insurance rules if you are billing for their visits.
5. When it comes to family benefits, you'll want to clearly define what that benefit is in terms of number of visits or dollar amounts if you intend to put a cap on it.

No matter what policies you establish for your office, the most important thing is to treat your staff member and their family members as you would any other employee. It will help establish clear boundaries and prevent any misunderstandings.

© 2010, Barbara C. Phillips, NP. All Rights Reserved.

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