By Nick Hernandez bio The shortage of physicians was already an issue in the United States ... and then came the Affordable Care Act, which exacerbated the problem immensely. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges now estimates that there will be a shortage of 91,500 doctors by 2020. This added demand for healthcare means physicians will simply have … [Read more...] about Concierge Medicine vs. Direct Primary Care
Increasing profits
How to write a strong collection letter
Increasing patient payments improves the practice's bottom line. But how exactly do you motivate patients to pay? To write an effective collection letter, follow these guidelines. • Make it short. Limit the letter to one page. Limit the paragraphs to two sentences. Limit the sentences to 22 words. And limit the words to three syllables. Do this and the message will be … [Read more...] about How to write a strong collection letter
Strong practice leaders understand the competition
By Nick Hernandez bio Practice managers must be keenly aware of what competing practices are doing as well as practices outside of their catchment area. Practice management requires a firm focus on the competition; identifying its strengths and vulnerabilities is crucial. Since managing a successful practice requires decision and action based on situational … [Read more...] about Strong practice leaders understand the competition
Involving staff in marketing generates good ideas and sense of teamwork
An office manager looking for ways to encourage a team atmosphere decided to ask staff to help market the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) practice where they all work. The goal was to help staff see that everyone plays a key role in the four-physician, 22-staff practice. The office manager began by holding a meeting focused on the important role everyone plays in marketing the … [Read more...] about Involving staff in marketing generates good ideas and sense of teamwork
Should your physicians blog?
Blogging, when successful, results in a certain notoriety, which, in the case of a physician blogger, calls attention to his or her medical practice. Such notoriety can help market the practice and result in new patients. But there are other reasons doctors blog—and, in fact, marketing the practice isn't one of the primary reasons physicians take to the keyboard. Dr. John … [Read more...] about Should your physicians blog?
New Quality Payment Program resources are now available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently posted the following new and updated resources on the Quality Payment Program website: 2018 Self-Nomination Toolkit for QCDRs & Registries:Offers step-by-step instructions for potential Qualified Registry and Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) vendors to self-nominate to qualify for the 2018 … [Read more...] about New Quality Payment Program resources are now available
The countdown for MACRA data collection is ON
By Tina Colangelo bio The last day to start collecting data is October 2, 2017. That is less than a month away. It is crucial to take action now and schedule a MACRA practice assessment. At the very least, these four questions need to be answered: Which payment track will I participate in in 2017, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or an Advanced … [Read more...] about The countdown for MACRA data collection is ON
In the News: Alliance helps member physicians collect patient reviews and manage online reputation
Physicians belonging to Collier County Medical Society (CCMS) in Florida now have help boosting their online reputation and gaining insight into their practices from patient reviews about their experiences, thanks to a new strategic alliance with Testimonial Tree. For a discounted price, member physicians will have access to Testimonial Tree's reputation management services, … [Read more...] about In the News: Alliance helps member physicians collect patient reviews and manage online reputation
Choosing the right medical practice technology lease
By Nick Hernandez bio Medical practices often find themselves trying to keep pace with advancements in technology, but keeping up is easier said than done. Investment in technology places heavy demands on capital resources. As a result, administrators are exploring alternative sources of capital beyond customary bank loans. When you buy equipment and finance it with … [Read more...] about Choosing the right medical practice technology lease
Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 2017 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture Category III (QRDA III) Implementation Guide (IG) Version 1.0 (7/07/2017) for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals (EPs) Programs with Schematron and sample files. This version replaces the 2017 CMS QRDA III IG for Eligible Clinicians Reporting … [Read more...] about Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files