In this series I’m taking a close look at the six most common obstacles to successful private practice management. This time, I’m reviewing the next two most common roadblocks.

Roadblock Three: Unclear Office Policies. In direct practice, we make the choice not to participate as third party providers. Therefore, this gives us a lot more latitude with not only the design of our practice, but also how we administer and execute it. 

One of the first things I suggest you do to obtain copies of what your staff presents to patients, either on paper or electronically on their first visit. If you haven’t done this in a while, you may be shocked. Spending a little bit of time here, can pay huge dividends because when done well, tweaking, and updating these presents you to your patients as both friendly and easy to deal with, especially as a physician. We all know the human touch is what’s missing in so much of mainstream medicine these days.

I recently performed this task for a formerly “hybrid” practice. In less than one-half an hour, we were able to eliminate more than three-fourths of the previously noted office “mandates” that were disguised as policies. We did this by simply removing anything that did not state plainly and in remarkably simple terms exactly what was expected by the patient to join and stay in the practice. We also softened the language quite a bit, and used the words thank you often. Since these policies are so often the first contact that patients may have with you and your practice, I strongly recommend you work on this one personally.

Roadblock Four: Lack of Multiple Payment Options. Even though our practices offer memberships plus add-ons, failing to look at all the payment options available to patients that they may want to use is a mistake. For example, do you not only accept credit & debit cards (where the patient pays all processing fees of course), but also us no charge ACH transfers, PayPal, and Venmo, or even good old cash and checks? Most modern card processing terminals even have options for touchless pay like Google or Apple. 

Just like Amazon and other extraordinary businesses, having multiple ways for patients to pay makes them more comfortable as well as gets you paid more easily. 

Obviously, a practice that pays attention to these details I talked about here today is not only far more likely to thrive, but also come across to a much larger audience as user friendly. 

One thing to really keep in mind regarding all of this is that any updates and changes you make should be used in your promotions both inside and outside the office. 

You’d be surprised how adding some simple updated conversations both on and offline, and even in telephone encounters regarding how easy it is to pay for impressive care become and stay a patient will carry over into your communities personal and social media discussions. Use this to your advantage! 

Don’t forget to post these tidbits on your website and your Google Business page too! 

Your happy patients will always help start discussions not just amongst their own circle of friends but also on their own social media.

In summary, never underestimate how simplification at every turn can make practice and life a whole lot less stressful, more profitable, and not just self-sustaining but so much more fun too.