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Sometimes It’s Appropriate to Say Goodbye
In keeping with our Pro Tip theme from the last two weeks I thought it appropriate to dive further into the fact that not every doctor-patient relationship is going to work. Repeated failure to follow medically necessary treatment, chronic no-shows, abusive or belligerent behavior toward the doctor or staff, or a complete breakdown in the…
Don’t Let the Chart Go Silent
Last week’s Pro Tip(opens in new tab) discussed communicating and documenting general non-compliance. Today let’s specifically discuss what should be happening when high-risk patients miss appointments. Following the “no-show” your staff calls and leaves a message. (Morning no-shows should be called before lunch and afternoons by the end of the clinic day). The patient misses…
When Patients Don’t Follow the Plan
You can recommend the right treatment, prescribe the right medication, order the right testing and schedule the necessary follow-up—but you can’t make the patient comply. What you can do is make sure the patient understands why compliance matters—and document your efforts when they don’t follow through. Make the Consequences Clear Instead of simply saying, “Come back in two weeks,” explain why: “I…
The Power of “Do You Have Any Questions?”
One of the most valuable lessons from Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink has little to do with medicine—and everything to do with how patients feel about their doctor. Research discussed in the book found an interesting difference in the way physicians with fewer malpractice claims communicated with their patients: they tended to spend a little more time with them and created…
Are You Prepared to Prove Your X-Rays Were Actually Taken?
For years, most podiatrists have focused on documenting why an X-ray was medically necessary and ensuring that an interpretation was included in the patient’s medical record. Unfortunately, for some insurance companies, that’s no longer enough. We’re seeing an increasing number of payers request the actual X-ray images as part of pre-payment reviews, post-payment audits, and appeals involving payment recoupments…
AI Is Becoming Your New Referral Source
Patients aren’t just asking friends for recommendations anymore—they’re asking AI. Whether it’s ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Siri, Gemini, or other AI-powered assistants, these tools increasingly recommend physicians, restaurants, businesses, and products by analyzing online information, especially patient reviews, ratings, website content, and overall digital reputation. If your practice has few reviews, outdated information, or inconsistent…
Stop Leaving Better Outcomes on the Shelf
With insurance reimbursement continuing to decline while overhead expenses keep climbing, many practices are working harder just to maintain the same level of profitability. The reality is that today’s successful practices can no longer rely solely on insurance reimbursement. One of the most effective ways to strengthen both patient outcomes and practice profitability is to…
Profitability Checklist: Is Your Practice as Profitable as You Think?
Many podiatrists judge their practice by how busy they are. Profitability, however, depends on much more than patient volume. Give yourself one point for each “Yes” answer. ☐ I know my average reimbursement by payer—not just my overall collections. ☐ I review my most commonly billed CPT codes at least quarterly. ☐ I know my…
When “Dr. Google” Walks Through the Door
As you know (and experience each clinic day), patients often arrive having researched their symptoms online before scheduling an appointment. While the internet has made health information more accessible, it has also made misinformation just as easy to find. Rather than dismissing a patient’s self-diagnosis, acknowledge the effort they’ve made to understand their condition. A simple response such as, “I can…
Don’t Assume all Blue Cross Plans Pay the Same
Many podiatry practices assume that because multiple Blue Cross (and other private payer) plans are submitted electronically using the same payer ID, they reimburse similarly. In reality, that assumption can cost your practice significantly each year. Using Blue Cross as our main example: A single payer ID may represent dozens—or even hundreds—of different employer groups,…