In many cases, practices are solely interested on the front desk collecting co-payments. This has left co-insurances and deductibles to patient billing after the claim has been processed, resulting in a lengthy revenue cycle and less cash flow.

For a more streamlined system, people are now utilizing new policies which can assist in solving this issue.

The first step to do this is to determine one’s goals. Using data is one way to do this, as it helps to alternate and modify one’s collection procedures. Considering new technology to improve efficiency and speed is also something to consider.

Looking at the current state of the implemented policies is imperative. The next step is configuring work flow. Listing out the steps for collecting at the time of service is one way to do this.  The next step is to locate the various people involved in the workflow, and properly assess their responsibilities to ensure that everyone is being provided with ample work. Overworking individuals results in a reduction in efficiency, and so does underworking.

Communicating the expectations to your patients ahead of time is an essential part of implementing new workflow and strategies. Rather than create matter-of-fact policies, craft a brief message that explains the reasoning behind the policy whenever possible.

Prepare for the change by arming your staff with the tools they need to communicate the new plan; make sure they know where to find the information they need, be comfortable with answering questions from patients, and can navigate the policy for every-day workflow.

Roleplaying can be a way to practice ahead of time and alleviate a lot of tension and stress beforehand. Requesting payments upfront is likely to be an unpopular policy for patients, but a necessary one for your practice. Developing options to assist patients with these payments can do a great deal to bridge the gap to meet everyone’s needs.

Finally, consider using technology to assist you by implementing an electronic credit card on file program. There are several secure systems on the market that do not display the credit card information and instead, store key information in the cloud. This provides a level of comfort that personal information is inaccessible to anyone on staff.

About Gregory Broccoli

Gregory Broccoli has 25 years of ambulatory care and multi-specialty physician operations; his background includes both clinic procedures and administrative. Over the years he has had the ability to examine and re-engineer operations and workflows and report operational metrics to staff and providers. The main principle of a patients office visit is the patient experience. It’s the foundation and fundamental step toward quality healthcare.

For more information, visit: http://www.gregorybroccoli.com/

Media Contact
Company Name: Physician Practice Management
Contact Person: Gregory Broccoli
Email: gregbroccoli@gmail.com
Phone: 718 772-1379
Country: United States
Website: http://www.gregorybroccoli.com/