Today more than ever, medical practices are trying to cope with increasing costs while keeping the revenue stream steady or, better yet, increasing. How can you thrive in tough economic times?
Here are some tips to help your practice flourish:
- Strive for excellent customer service—a patient called to get a copy of a bill for a particular service they needed to submit for insurance. A friendly staff member answered the phone the first time the patient called and assured them they would email the copy of the bill within the hour—and then they did it. This patient was so stunned at this high level of customer service in an age where every service-related matter takes days or weeks to resolve that they kept relaying the story to their friends. When these friends needed a podiatrist, whom do you think they called? Personal contact and good service can bring in new patients and help you keep the ones you have.
- Stay current on treatments and technologies—minimally invasive surgery, laser treatment for toenail fungus, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and other new, cutting-edge technologies are sought after by today’s podiatric patients. Of course, you have to balance the cost of equipment and training with your office demographics, but when patients hear about new treatments for foot ailments, they will seek a podiatrist who offers them.
- Improve efficiency for higher patient volume—seeing more patients translates into more billable services. However, this strategy will backfire if you overbook, resulting in long wait times. The key is to improve the flow and efficiency of a patient visit in your practice. Increased efficiency in your office will enable you to see more patients without compromising on care.
- Invest in your billing staff or go pro—podiatric billing is complicated, and rules and codes change frequently. Many practices lose revenue because they do not file clean claims, to begin with, and they don’t have the staff to pursue rejected or denied claims. This results in a good deal of money being left on the table. Designate specific staff for billing and give them the training they need or consider moving your billing to a professional service.
We can help you avoid billing errors. A Step Above Health Management Systems provides specialized podiatric medical billing services to clients nationwide. Let our firm provide your practice with a plan customized to manage all your billing needs. Please call us at (877) 448-6233 to learn how our solution can save you money and help streamline your billing process.
