Q: What is the importance of creating and maintaining office policies? Include information about the types of policies common in medical practices and how these policies impact the patients, employees, and the practice. A: Introduction: Policies can be guidelines, regulations, directions, rules, or laws that govern an organization or workers involved in that industry. Office policies help establish guidelines on the desired/ expected conduct of the employees either within the office or at functions/ events representing the company or organization. Some of the standard office policies in most organizations include: . Work environment policies: they govern and enforce office etiquette. It entails dressing code, hours of office operation, and when an employee is required to leave and arrive in the office . Attendance and Absence notification policy: These policies ensure that the operations of a company or small business continue to function normally and efficiently even if an employee is absent or requires some time off. It includes; time frames to request time off, sick, personal, vacation and grievance policies . Confidentiality: This policy ensures integrity is maintained in a company. It hinders employees or ex-employees from sharing information such as internal or client information that may compromise the organization's success . Employment and termination: It outlines the basic terms of hiring and reasons which could lead to termination Medical practice policies are essential as guideposts for operational efficiency and