Working to Get Better

Today's business and health care environment continues to require more attention to detail than the year before.  When you are in your office, it is critical that you look for ways to get better.  Getting better simply means identifying the items in your practice the hinder growth and patient flow.  Then sit with your staff and other providers to agree on a solution.  Common barriers are:

Patient intake
Work excuses/disability notices
Records requests
Documentation
Referrals to other specialists

As an example, one very good way to reduce the amount of time it takes to generate a work excuse or disability notice is to have a wireless printer at the front desk for doctor generated forms.  When I am in the room with a patient and they need something, I generate it in the EMR and it prints to the front.  I then tell them "your disability notice is up front, grab it when you leave".  This also goes for MD referrals and imaging orders.  This takes 10 seconds and now there is a record in the  patients electronic chart with the order.

EMR that combines billing AND notes can cost as little as $99 per month and is the wave of the future.  You need to seriously consider a plan to change over, otherwise the demands of health care are going to hinder your growth.  It is easy and makes practice fun, but it requires a plan.

Respectfully,

William J Owens Jr DC DAAMLP