My Top Three Assumptions when there is a knock on the office door are:
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Murderer
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The authorities have come to arrest me
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The book on positive thinking I ordered has arrived.
What on earth has that got to do with medical invoicing I hear you ask?
Everything.
Maybe not the first two (definitely not the 1st although the 2nd may have possibilities). The 3rd, however, is very relevant for you really need a positive attitude when you are invoicing for consultant surgeons.
All my guys (and girls) are lovely. They really put some serious hours in. Seldom do they seem to sleep (a throwback to being at med-school and being a “junior” hospital doctor).
Joined up writing is an issue too – I’m being serious!
It is the joined up writing part where you need positive thinking. I once enquired of one of my clients as to why all medical professionals seem to have poor handwriting.
He responded that a Doctor’s ability to write legibly is surgically removed at med-school. Works for me.
I can’t really insist my guys and gals improve their handwriting. But I can and do urge them to send me the clinic lists produced by the hospital instead of writing them out again.
Why re-write something when you can scan the original anyway?
Consequently, that is what they do.
Prepared
This leads me to have a positive outlook because I know the information I need will arrive in a format I can use to raise invoices correctly.
It also means from the consultant’s point of view once I have the data all the patient details will be checked. All the fees will be calculated. Invoices WILL be raised. I don’t even have to attempt to read the writing.
All in all, a very positive thought.
My clients, therefore, think positively regarding when and if they are going to get paid.
In reality, however, I don’t for a nanosecond believe in the concept of positive thinking.
You may, for example, have numerous positive thoughts that it won’t rain today. Your thoughts will have absolutely no impact at all on the weather and you may (or may not) get wet.
What will have an impact is if you have an umbrella with you? If it doesn’t rain, you won’t need the umbrella. Should it rain, you will.
If you have PREPARED and made sure whether it rains or not, you are in a position to handle it. You have taken ACTION.
Medical Invoicing
It is just the same with medical invoicing.
Don’t just have positive thoughts that all your work is being invoiced.
Have positive thoughts that you will get paid the right amount and on time.
Take positive ACTIONS to make sure your invoices are being raised to ensure you do get paid the right amount and on time.
pete@medicalhealthcaremanagement.co.uk