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Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey nothing's free
Take a chance on these
Gonna do our very best and it ain't no lie
Come on put these to the test and don't waste time
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on these)
Are you ready to take risks, jump over hurdles and break through those brick and mortar walls to advance your practice to the next level?
The time is now. No more over-analysis paralysis where decisions don't exist. When we detach from the present and wait for next week, or next month, or look into next year, it stunts the now practice growth.
But we should wait...
But we don't have enough...
But what if...
But there's no way...
But no one wants...
But, but, but...
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If your practice growth centers around buts, fears, and naysayers then your practice needs a “but” ectomy. Start this procedure today and stop harming your bottom line. Try putting a “but” ectomy bulletin board up and write down each naysayer's concern on a 3x5 index card. Use one card per concern. Pin the cards up and allow others to write rebuttal ideas they believe will work to eliminate those concerns. Take a vote and put some of the ideas in motion. A “but” ectomy is a serious procedure so please don't waste your time on gassy comments.
Aim for a staff environment where there are no secrets. Keep strong open lines of communication. Encourage creativity in staff at all levels and reward it. Take time today to try this belly laugh exercise. Get everyone in the office together and form a circle with your backsides toward the center. A designated leader starts to belly laugh as hard and loud as possible. Then in no particular order everyone in the circle joins in. Hopefully laughing is in your mission statement. You know you have done an outstanding job when patients comment on how they wish their workplace was as much fun as yours.
Try adding a frame line to your inventory that sets you apart from the norm. Ask for split billing options if necessary. Wear the brand yourself. Know the story line behind the brand and let your excitement be obvious. Accept credit cards with instant approval that are exclusive to healthcare. This gives your patient the option of a no interest payment plan if the balance is paid off during the allotted time.
Host a trunk show with your lens of choice sales rep and fashion forward frame reps. Pick a theme and decorate accordingly. Spread the word on social media networks. Offer special discounts on trunk show day. Design flyers and hand them out to patients and businesses in the area. Have giveaways that will peak the guest's interest. Food and beverages may vary depending on the time of the event.
Sign up to be a clinical site for a local medical administration college intern. Intern programs allow students to work in your practice to earn the workplace credits they are required to have. They usually work 20-40 hours a week under the supervision of practice management. It's refreshing to have someone eager to help out wherever you need them to. Liability insurance during their five week stay is normally handled through the college. You might end up putting them on your payroll when their internship is up.
Go more PayPerLe$$ today.
Save some trees and labor by printing less. If your staff is waiting in line at the copier to make a zillion copies of their handwritten work, then you've taken retro pay too far. The staff is being paid 2011 wages while the office technology mimics the 1980's. Hiring a professional service to convert your paper charts to electronic records will free your staff up to take care of more patients instead of paper central. Your practice will be more efficient and there will be more paper money in the practice's bank account which can easily be converted over to your staff's account.
You can expect some PayPerLe$$ growth spurts as well as growing pains when you introduce new technology to the practice. Established patients might give you some feedback if asked for information that seems redundant to them. If having a new practice management system (PMS) is not the answer they want to hear then smile and tell them that your doctor requires their information since you have PMS. That should work. Make sure that your website has the option for patients to print out their paperwork prior to their appointment.
Try a patient messaging communication system that integrates with your PMS. These services are HIPAA ready, easy to use and cost effective. You can personalize text messages, emails and newsletters to send out to all of your patients that wish to be contacted this way. Patients can send a text message to confirm or cancel appointments and receive a text message when their eyewear or contact lenses are ready. The service also provides marketing promotional tools, patient surveys and tracks and acknowledges patient birthdays. Within the first fifteen minutes of going live with the service our practice had a patient call that had received a text message letting him know he was past due for an eye exam and he booked an appointment. Instant results.
Dispensing technology for today's practice can be more than a black Sharpie pen and PD stick. State of the art dispensing equipment will take your practice over the top. Try a measuring system that allows you every parameter possible needed to fit the most sophisticated lenses. Imagine the growth potential when you are able to show your patient how thick their lenses will be or how no-glare lenses look on their eyewear before they even order them. This equipment is not a replacement for your priceless optician.
If you aim for nothing, you will surely get it. Take a chance and teach your patients the happy dance.
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