Practice Management Books

Six Sigma Best Practices is an excellent up-to-date overview of the Six Sigma process - the methodology, the philosophy and the practice. It details an implementation strategy that a company can follow with a variety of examples and exercises that can be used across the organization.

Throughout the text are very good statistical examples using Minitab 14 that not only assist you in understanding the tool but also the appropriate application. There is a good balance of theory and practical applications for each step of the DMAIC methodology. This would be an extremely useful reference guide for any level of Six Sigma practitioner - Yellow Belt, Green Belt or Black Belt!

Cliff L. Seastrunk, Six Sigma Lead Instructor

It is clear the author has a rich industry background which he shares with the reader throughout the text quite well via examples and case studies. I picked the book up as a resource and found myself reading many sections word for word, finding in many chapters a `reservoir of knowledge' and an appreciation of knowledge to different industry situations. Also noteworthy is the focus on Business Strategic Planning. The Appendix incorporated industrial marketing aspects with key components of strategic planning. I found this to be extremely valuable for business planning not found in other Six Sigma resources.

* I found the book to be a useful resource, and easy to follow with a good coverage of the basics to include Project charting, team selection, project selections, etc.
* Follows the traditional methodology of the Six Sigma masters - Dr. Godfrey at North Carolina State University, GE & Motorola
* Logical presentation by DMAIC phases. Engages the team & demands that you ask the logical questions
* Index very helpful. Definitions for terms clear & concise. Although many terms not in the glossary, they are found in the text.
* The summary points & the statement format points within the chapters provided excellent process feedback to keep projects on track.
* The tips for project progress are very prescriptive; I found them quite useful, even for a novice or an infrequent user. Good web resource provided.
* The incorporation of case studies helped drive the application of key points in all the phases.
* Clear Minitab commands provided in the examples.

This book promisses to meet the needs of varying constituencies. The text integrates the six-sigma materials with a solid presentation of the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) process (problem-solving technique). It has numerous reader friendly features including:
* Book audience -
- Anyone wishing to obtain a better understanding of Six Sigma. This includes both the academicians as well as practitioners of six-sigma.
- Excellent examples, exercises, forms and tools which are great for the new users and those preparing for training programs.
- Great textbook for Six Sigma certification program starting with first level up to the advanced level (Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt)
* Presentation
- Is very well laid out and easy to read. It provides an excellent balance between introductory and advanced topics.
- Provides an excellent introduction and implementation information including project selection and infrastructure.
- Provides an excellent lead into the implementation and deployment process.
- Provides an excellent mix of narrative and flow charts to get the point across with ease.
- Does an excellent job with the discussion of CTQ.
- Covers all the basic statistics and quality improvement tools of the Six Sigma management system.
- Provides an excellent case studies and discussion of DOE (Design of Experiments) and SPC (Statistical Process Control).

In summary, this textbook provides the tools needed to transform any business/company into one that routinely uses proven scientific methods to realize significant gains in productivity, quality, revenue and profitability in a methodical and sensible fashion. The text also makes a great reference book for anyone who deals with lean / six-sigma concepts and practices.

It seems that Stedman's word books, generally, get a nearly unanimous standing ovation from transcriptionists, and a good head-scratching reply from those who are looking for more detailed information in addition to terminology, phrases, and spelling.

Well, that's appropriate. This ophthalmology word book, and all of the other similar word books Stedman's publishes, are specifically targeted to the niche market of MTs, medical authors, etc., who need specific information on the hundreds of thousands of terms used within the field. This particular book is valuable because it is so specialized, as terms of ophthalmology are rarely used in other areas. While many medical terms may apply to a number of specialties, that's just not the case here.

If not for this book, I would be completely lost, for example, in an ER trauma report that deals with an eye injury, and certainly would be lost when having to transcribe a blepharoplasty or even a routine cataract removal. Stedman's is a gold mine for anyone hoping to advance in the field of medical transcription.

"Ophthalmology Words" by Stedman once again lives up to the Stedman tradition of excellence. With over 60,000 entries, it completely covers the gamut of ophthalmologic words, surgical and otherwise. In addition to being completely cross-referenced, it includes four helpful appendixes that include 1) several anatomic reference guides, 2) commonly used eye drug/medications, 3) a preparation/procedure reference, and, most helpful in my estimation, 4) 13 ophthalmologic reports--the latter are extremely helpful for he/she who writes up surgical reports.

This second edition, written in the year 2000, is as current as you can get.

As a transcriptionist who occasionally does ophthalmologic transcription, I find this reference tops.

The second edition of "Stedman's Ophthalmology Words" [January 2000] is a real gem for the medical transcriptionist needing a current reference in this specialty. It has 60,000 entries, cross-indexed, with >42,00 medical word entries relevant to ophthalmology, including the pertinent peripheral nerves, muscles, disorders and diseases.

Additionally, it has four helpful appendixes: 1) anatomical illustrations, 2) common terms by procedure, 3) drugs by indication [i.e., for entities such as "conjunctivitis" or "glaucoma", there is listed the Rx for these common problems] and, I believe most helpful, 4) thirteen common operative reports with many of the arcane terms used by eye surgeons.

Surgical instruments are listed freely in this tome: the word "forceps", for example, has four pages of various forceps found in ophthalmology.

This is a gold mine for the individual who needs a reference in this specialty. As a transcriptionist who occasionally transcribes ophthalmological reports, I recommend it highly.

I use Stedman's Orthopaedic & Rehab Words book every day with my work and am so thankful I have it as a fast and reliable reference. I have had other Orthopaedic reference books but do not use them anymore as Stedman's is the most comprehensible and thorough. It is next to me when I work and never have to worry if I need to check on a word. Stedman's are the only reference books in my library now.

This book is an absolute must have for any MT! I refer to this book several times a day and would be lost without it!

This is a great book as are all the Stedman's word books. A must for any medical transcriptionist doing ortho.

Great Product. A must for any medical transciptionist. Use it in WordPerfect and MS Word.

Indispensable (i.e. can't do my work without it), nevertheless there seems to be a wealth of terminology in the chemical pharmaceutical sector that is not incorporated. Also, unlike prior versions, L&S are now enforcing the license. Validate it on more than two computers and it fails. Found out the hard way after damned MS XP failed on me. Nevertheless, a relatively quick call to tech support resulted in a new license on a new computer after I explained what had happened.

I needed this product ASAP so I took advantage of the next day delivery and got it. It was wonderful and I was able to get it loaded into my computer and run with it. Thank you so much.

I've read lots of real estate books over the years, but "Stop Foreclosure Now" is one of the best. Plus, you don't have to be in foreclosure to appreciate its contents. For example, I'm a real estate investor, but still found it valuable. The book is divided into five sections. The first section covers promissory notes, mortgages, and deeds of trust. The second section differentiates between judicial and non-judicial foreclosure and describes the procedures for each. The third section describes various strategies homeowners can utilize to stop the foreclosure and save their homes. The fourth section, which was particularly helpful to me. Describes the specific foreclosure procedures in each of the 50 states. It includes a nifty map of each states and that state's website (which you can access for updates on foreclosure laws). The final section contains a glossary of commonly used real estate terms. This book is a valuable new addition to my real estate library, and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about foreclosure.

Jim Mills
Manhattan Beach, CA

"With STOP FORECLOSURE NOW, author Lloyd Segal has done a HUGE favor for many of us homeowners who have to face the very real intimidating and frightening process of coping with such financial difficulties. By simplifying and demystifying many of the steps involved, Mr. Segal has given us access to the knowledge and the ways and means necessary to better protect our families and our properties.
It's a very important intermediate step before having to seek and pay for professional help!

Thank-you,

Howard Gordon"

As a principle, I stay far away from self help and you-can-do-it-yourself books, because more often than not, their authors seem to have the secret ambition of turning clueless reader/user into experts on their subject matters. Mr. Segal's book does not supply the reader with needless information on foreclosure, short sales and related matters: it simply provides very straightforward answers to all the fundamental questions the distressed homeowner actually has and to which he/she is seeking concrete answers to get out of a difficult situation. Plain and simple.
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What more, the book is remarkably clearly written, and structured in such a way that the user/reader does not spend a minute agonizing over where to start, what chapters to read, or what information could be relevant given his or her particular circumstances. This book is in fact very results-oriented, and explores right from the start different viable solutions; from there, the reader/user is then guided through his or her solution, or best alternative option very steadfastly by the author. In that regard, I have to admire Mr. Segal's great ability to navigate the reader/user through a complex situation with surprisingly simple solutions, and his ability to put himself in the shoes of a distressed homeowner. Truly amazing!

Now. I came across, and bought this book when was entangled in a seemingly dead end situation: I had tried - rather very unsuccessfully-- to sell my house on which I owed more than the current market value, from 2 different lenders; my real estate agent, and real estate lawyer had both given up on my case; I felt trapped, and I was angered by the situation. When they let me down, I freezed, and was basically waiting for doom to loom on me. " Stop Foreclosure Now. Save your house if you can; save your credit if you can't" did not merely give me hope to find a way out. It actually empowered me overnight to take charge of my situation, by equipping me with the knowledge, tools, and information needed to engage with lenders and people in the real estate community in an intelligible and articulated manner about my case. Indeed, as a read the book, I could see myself evolving from a state of desperation and disempowerment to a state of mind where I could see new opportunities emerging from my obviously desparate situation. In that respect, one of the key lessons of the book, from a homeowner's perspective is Mr' Segal's take that foreclosure is not the end of it all; as a matter of fact, it could actually be the best thing happening to a homeowner seeking a fresh beginning in homeownership.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, -- distressed homeowner or not -- who wants to engage intelligibly with lenders, or real estate folks on a foreclosure case, and work out a viable solution for herself or himself. Given the current real estate market, this book is simply a gem of wisdom, knowledge and power.

This is a fantastic book and a great resource. The graphics are very useful and all information is practical. It's my favorite book of the year.
Laura Goodrich

I have been through a number of the most popular books on corporate storytelling, and this is by far the most useful of them. While they all contain a number of case studies, this book goes one step further and actually provides the reader with clear step-by-step guidelines on how to start using storytelling within your own organisation. Budtz, Fog and Yakaboylu evidently have a lot of real-world experience with their subject matter.

It's rare that a European book on branding is endorsed by American gurus such as Philip Kotler, Kevin Kelly and Tom Peters - even marketing guru Seth Godin calls this book "one of the very best marketing books of the year".

The strength of this book is not only its message, but in the simple way it delivers this message - through a range of anecdotes and good illustrations.

Addressing professionals working in management, sales, marketing, PR and human resources "Storyteling - Branding in Practice" is probably the first of its kind to provide a practical, hands-on set of tools for companies to apply storytelling strategically as a source to competive power.

In a few hours the book will give you insights into:
- how storytelling can be applied in a business context
- how and where to find stories about your company or brand
- how to tell these stories in a way that benefits business

I've read quite a few self-help books and this is one of the best. The Stress Reduction Journal successfully integrates theory and practical advice and follows up with exercises so that readers can explore and practice on their own. Trina Swerdlow uses simple but effective diagrams to illustrate her points and uses examples that we can all relate to. This comprehensive guide is written in easily understandable language with a sense of playfulness and good-humor. As a hypnotherapist and career counselor who leads life balance workshops, I frequently recommend it to my clients. It is useful for health care practioners as well as individuals and could be used as a text to accompany a stress management class.

This book is a winner for anyone dealing with stress. Trina Swerdlow combines great writing, moving imagery, useful tools,
and real examples to make this book easy to read and easy to use. In today's stressed out environment, whether at work, raising families, or just getting through the ups and downs of life, her tool:"The Relaxation Response", meditation techniques, and guidance on journaling are among the stress busters that make this book a worthy read.

In the flood of recent self-help books, Trina Swerdlow's Stress Reduction Journal emerges as a jewel. Its straightforward, practical, and user-friendly style provides all the tools every stressed-out person desperately needs.

Loren E. Pedersen, Ph.D., Jungian psychoanalyst and author of "Dark Hearts: The Unconscious Forces That Shape Men¹s Lives," "Sixteen Men: Understanding Masculine Personality Types," and "The Soul Grows in Darkness."

The Total Service Medical Practice is a practical, easy- to-use roadmap for keeping focused on the customer! Definitely not just a book on theory, but a manual chocked-full of concrete examples on how to mobilize your team around identifying and enhancing the critical 'moments of truth' for your medical practice. Dr. Bradford provides us with numerous tools and take-aways from her experiences in the industry - a great read for providers, practice managers, and office staff.

As a medical group practice administrator, I am always looking for effective, easily implemented ideas for improving service to our patients. Dr. Bradford's book gives this type of information in a clear,logical approach. I purchased two copies of Dr. Bradford's book and they are on constant loan to my colleagues. I highly recommend The Total Service Medical Practice: 17 Steps to Satisfying Your Internal and External Customers to any medical practice that shares with us a renewed focus on providing the best in all aspects of our patients' care.

Unique in its perspective and insight, The Total Service Medical Practice offers an easy-to-read seventeen step method of critically analyzing service delivery in the ambulatory health care setting. Drawing on in-depth interviews with customers, physicians, practice managers, and communication experts, Vicky Bradford shares specific examples of what distinguishes the best practices and the best employees. Although the easy-to-read, comprehensive text easily can serve as a primer for effective communication in health care, the specific service examples, anecdotes, quotations, charts, and lists provide insight and ideas to even the most experienced practice administrator.

The organization of the text makes it useful as a reference tool for problem solving as well as an instructional tool for in-services. In a time when everyone declares himself to be a service expert, it is refreshing to read the perceptions and insights of patients, family members, physicians, and staff members presented side-by-side.

Resources in the text include insights into organizing a mentoring program for new employee orientation, guidelines on professional perceptions, informal and formal systems analysis, and managing the critical "moments of truth" with customers. Specific examples also are included of Focus Group Interview Questions, a Service-Quality Questionnaire, problem solving techniques, team composition, conflict management, collection / billing timetables, financial agreements, and developing personal service statements.

For the new health care employee or administrator, the text provides rich explanations of ambulatory health care settings, expectations, and terminology. For the seasoned professional, it provides gentle reminders and fresh ideas. This text not only is practical, it is practically indispensable.

This book is very insightful on both, aspects of tourism and travel, as well as the financial affects that tourism can play on a country's economy. The authors seem to know what they're talking about and they're very good at relaying their knowledge to their readers in a concise way.

This book offers a fusion of theory and practical advice that is directly relevant to managers - an area where many current tourism texts fall short. It is both strategic and tactical, providing readers with a broad overview of the tourism environment as well as implementable ideas for improving business performance. I have read and enjoyed the original version by McIntosh, and the new insights from Ritchie and Goeldner add new depth to an already exceptional read.

Look around. You'll find no book in the field as thorough and well written as this.

This text provides a great overview of the tourism industry, from what tourism is to its organization to the theories that help fomulate such a diverse industry. This book should be studied by every student studying tourism.

Having worked in a fast-paced, high stress environment, I quickly learned the importance the stress relief. The Tranquility System was an invaluable guide to me in my quest for relaxation. It is filled with useful tips on how to relax even when you are in a stressful situation (which of course is when you really need it) and how to incorporate stress relief into your daily life. I particularly appreciated the anecdotes the authors share about the individuals they have worked with, as they personalize the damaging effects stress can have on our relationships with others, and on our own spirits. The relaxation techniques outlined by Forest and Light are clearly explained and easy to practice. This book has taught me that it is possible to achieve a sense of inner peace no matter how chaotic my environment - I highly recommend it.

Can it really be that simple? Can you literally dissolve all stress just by breathing? The answer is a resounding "YES"! I had the great pleasure of working with the authors of this book while they were still developing their beautifully simple but extraordinarily powerful system for dissolving stress and, having quickly mastered the basic techniques and integrated them into my daily life, I can testify to the quite astonishing effectiveness of this system. I would go so far as to say it not only helps you deal with all the stresses of day-to-day life in this frenetically busy world but, if you continue to follow the simple, step-by-step guidance, it can totally transform your life! Just reading the book took me back to that deep sense of peace that I experienced for the first time in my life when I worked with these amazing people, Forest and Light. I find it immensely exciting that The Tranquility System is now available in book form. Maybe you simply want to learn to cope better with a busy life, in which case this is the book for you. But it goes deeper than that. The same techniques can be of immeasurable help in the deep healing process that a large number of people are involved with at the moment as many of us search for a better way of living, a better way of being. I particularly loved the line on the very last page of the book - "Remember to be patient with yourself. You are changing patterns that have been with you a whole lifetime." With the help of this book and just a little gentle practice you can open up to a whole new way of living, a joyful and exciting way, safe in the knowledge that, whatever the stresses to come, with The Tranquility System at hand you will know exactly what to do to dissolve them.

I loved this book from the minute I read the first page. The authors have a very calming, soothing way of writing that is almost meditative in itself. They begin by examining the causes of stress in our lives and the different and often destructive ways in which we deal with stress individually. By sharing personal anecdotes that may seem "deja vu" to a lot of us, they grasp your attention almost inmediately. Stress not only wrecks havoc with our lives personally, but according to the authors, stress also suppresses the immune stystem and sets you up as a target for a total collapse. Forest and Light (great names) share easy to learn techniques you can use anywhere and anytime that used regularly (practice is the key) provide almost instant relief and inner peace. There are different techniques for different types and levels of stress. I'm still working on Level 1 and it really works! If you're under a lot of tension,pain or stress, or know someone that is, get this book!