The new year is upon us! As cliché as resolutions have become, the new year is an ideal time to take stock of your practice and evaluate what is working and what isn’t. Now is the time for some reflection and re-evaluation of the past year’s business choices. Consider implementing a modern business practice, setting some internal goals for patient retention, or building that online reputation. Here are five ideas to apply to your new and improved medical practice in 2018.
Stay on top of your claims.
Whether you do it every day or twice a week, it is extremely important to stay on top of claims. Submitting correct and clean insurance claims frequently and consistently creates flow within the office and almost guarantees predictable and timely reimbursements.
Nurture important relationships.
Your referral network is key to your business. Build meaningful relationships with this group, as they send a large portion of patients your way.
Look into implementing satisfaction surveys.
There are some drawbacks to patient satisfaction surveys, but make 2018 the year to focus on patient needs. Surveys can help your office gain some perspective on patient happiness. Collecting this essential data can help your practice define business benchmarks and set goals for improvement.
Eliminate no-shows.
While this may seem impossible, it’s a goal worth working towards. No-shows are a substantial problem for most medical practices as they lead to scheduling headaches and will impact your bottom line. Whether it’s executing an electronic reminder system or setting up a more efficient calling system, work with your team to come up with a new and effective plan.
Engage with your patients.
Utilize social media and a quality website to stay in touch with your patients. Include an informative blog along with an online patient portal so your patients can easily access their records and important documents.
It is important to engage with your patients online but don’t forget to do it face-to-face. A big complaint among many patients is that they don’t feel respected or have enough time with their physicians. Ensure that your patients are heard by your whole staff – doctors, nurses and office personnel. Take the time to sit down, talk with them and truly listen.
Whatever objectives and ideas you have for the New Year, make the decision today to take your medical practice to the next level. Applying innovative and fresh concepts will help you control and grow your practice. Give your staff and patients the gift of a strong and balanced medical environment in 2018.
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