I received a message from a trusted billing and coding professional the other day. She asked me about a national company that contracted with her doctors to take over their operations. She was concerned that her office environment was about to change. Job security was a legitimate worry as well. All of this is understandable. As a manager, I was part of a franchise that was heavy handed in control, and later, I was part of an ownership/culture change. Those were the circumstances that led me to start my own consulting business. The real question in these situations is, “What can I do as an employee?” My answer, “Be a professional.” Working like a Professional is always the right, first step. A professional sets the example. They don’t complain to other employees. They take their concerns to ownership instead of spreading dissent. They partner with the new management trying to be a part of the solution and not another problem for them to solve. She asked, “What if it is a terrible situation?” I encouraged her that if she was a professional throughout, she could get a good reference from her boss. If that was impossible, she could still leave with dignity. Skilled Billing and Coding professionals are in demand. These types of things happen in the medical industry, and quite often, they are out of the medical professional’s control. The only thing that can be controlled is the employee’s professionalism. So, hang there, everybody. Be the professional. Keep your head held high. I’m thankful for all of you Billing and Coding Professionals out there. Hang in there, and keep doing the profession proud. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 HealthCare Pro Academy – Billing & Coding Mentorship www.jgordonduncan.com www.prosightsuccess.com www.prosightworkbook.com
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ProSight Success is excited to launch the ProSight Success Podcast! As best as we can tell, there are only one or two eye care related podcasts out there, and we felt there was a great need for one that focused more on practical changes that you can make in your office more profitable and enjoyable. We will of course focus on the eye care industry, but we will also offer advice, tips, and interviews that cover a broad spectrum of businesses and business needs: things like marketing, managing, and human resources. In our first episode, we talk about the podcast's purpose, Gordon's background, and we discuss the importance of diagnostics. Diagnostics are the numbers that determine the health of your practice. We also talk about how you can influence them to grow your practice and get your entire staff involved. Each week, we will launch the podcast on more and more platforms. To find out which platforms are available, go to the podcast’s webpage. Thanks for listening. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 ProSight offers a host of resources for the eye care and medical industries. Just let us know how we can help. HealthCare Pro Academy www.jgordonduncan.com www.prosightsuccess.com www.prosightworkbook.com I was managing an incredibly successful practice. In fact, it was successful due to the hard work of others. I inherited it. Sadly, I was running it in the ground. I was doing too much, and the one area that was suffering most was the insurance. Our accounts receivable were rising, and our bank balancing was falling. What to do? The solution was simple. We contracted with a Billing and Coding expert. At first, we were worried about the cost. How in the world could we justify spending more money when we were losing money? To answer that question, we did the math. First, we looked around and asked what the cost was to hire a Billing and Coding profession. The cost wasn’t horrendous. In fact, as a W2/1099 employee, the cost was reasonable. Second, we looked at how much more money we would be bringing in because of this professional. We contracted her not only to file for us but also to periodically train our staff. As a result, we had fewer denied claims. The additional revenue more than paid for her salary. Third, we explored avenues that I, as the manager, could pursue with my additional time. The main area we found was staff training. I was then freed up to help our frame sellers sell more. I was freed up to train our front desk staff to be more efficient and friendly. I was even freed up to do the marketing that I just never found time for. What was the result? Greater profit. So, what about your practice? Is it time to hire a Billing and Coding professional? Examine the three steps we took to answer that question. Can you find someone? Will it bring you in more money? Will it free up your manager or another employee to do more? If so, it might be time to look to hire a Billing and Coding professional. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 ProSight offers a host of resources for the eye care and medical industries. Just let us know how we can help. HealthCare Pro Academy www.jgordonduncan.com www.prosightsuccess.com www.prosightworkbook.com Sharknado 6 premieres this Sunday. That’s right. Sharknado 6. We’ve all read the meme. In a meeting somewhere, someone actually said, "let's make a movie about sharks caught in a tornado.” And they did it. What makes this series so popular, and what should it teach us about marketing and branding? I can boil it down to one thing. Sharknado doesn’t apologize for what it is: a ridiculous movie with a slightly above average movie. They know it. You know it, and they brag about it. When it comes to your brand, business, or anything else you care about growing and promoting, don’t apologize for what you are. Sharknado works because it is unabashedly a movie about sharks and tornados. In fact, Sharknado makes sure everyone knows what it is. It even won over Rotten Tomatoes, the internet’s source for movie criticism. The site's consensus states: "Proudly, shamelessly, and gloriously brainless, Sharknado redefines 'so bad it's good' for a new generation."[i] Yep, Sharknado brags about its badness and gets respect because of it. Do the same for your business or practice. If you are quirky, live up the quirky. If you are a boutique, boutique it up. If you are corporate, brag on your corporateness. Just don’t be so generic that you don’t have any distinctiveness. Build marketing campaigns and inner office branding around what makes you, you. Sing it loud. Sing it proud. Just don’t be generic or bland. If you would like help, ProSight Success has a team of marketing strategists. If you are interested in learning about our services, email me at [email protected], and we will be glad to answer any of your questions. Gordon Duncan is the CEO/Consultant of ProSight Success and has trained employees for nearly 20 years. ProSight Success has several tools to help the eye care industry with all of this. Our international bestseller, Practice Progress, goes deep into the philosophies above. You can find the paperback at Amazon. However, your best value is the full 7 Step, 7 Book ProSight Success System. We offer it in 3 formats: Digital ProSight Success System Paperback ProSight Success System And our best value: the ProSight Success Workbook that includes a digital copy and a free hour of consulting. Of course, Gordon Duncan, our CEO, is also available for private consulting. Email him at [email protected]. [i] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sharknado_2013/ When I first began managing my eye doctor’s office, I wore many hats. I was the manager, insurance filer, and backup for every position. Each was essential, but I if failed in the insurance area, the office ran out of money. It almost happened one time, and from that experience, I learned a few hard lessons. The challenge before me was learning how to wear all my hats while still making sure that the insurance companies paid us what we deserved. Can you relate? Do you wear hats in addition to filing insurance? How do you manage? The greater question is how do you do your job and not lose your sanity? As I progressed from manager to consultant, I realized that the stess put on most Billing and Coding experts was ridiculous. However, after working with dozens of filers, their advice for insurance experts who also wear other hats came down to this: Prioritize Personal Rest and Care – You have an important job. You can’t live off of coffee, energy drinks, and little sleep. To manage things well, you have got to take care of yourself. You won’t be able to do file, manage, and have a personal life if your body and brain break down. Block Out Time – This approach might be the toughest of all, but it is the most practical. Most of the successful filers/managers I work with do this. They block out certain hours in the day that are dedicated to working on insurance. Their doctors and staff know not to bother them unless it is urgent. This time allows them to dedicate and focus their time to the really tough claims or to burn through a massive amount of work in a short amount of time. Find a Support Team – The most effective filers/managers have a support team. Whether that be a friend they grab lunch with regularly, are part of a managing cohort, or have a mentor, thriving while being responsible for so much demands support. How about you? Are you thriving? Surviving? Neither? What positive steps can you put in place to do your multiple jobs well? Even if you can’t do the three above, could you make changes in one of those areas? If we can help, please let us know. I’m thankful for all of you Billing and Coding Professionals out there. Hang in there, and keep doing the profession proud. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 HealthCare Pro Academy www.jgordonduncan.com www.prosightsuccess.com www.prosightworkbook.com Barnes & Noble is in trouble.[i] Last week, they fired their chief executive (the fourth in the last five years). Stocks are down 60% in the last 3 years. Their Nook has become more of a financial drain than boost. And there is one primary reason: Amazon. Online retail is destroying the brick and mortar book industry. The only bookstores that are thriving are those that cultivate unique personalities in targeted locales that give their customers a desire to shop there (because low prices are going to be an attraction). These same challenges are apparent for the eye industry. You can now buy contact lenses online, prescription glasses online, and in some cases, you don’t even have to get a new prescription to get these things. So, why should anyone get their yearly, comprehensive exam from you? The answer lies in your creating a reason for people to visit. Just like those boutique bookstores, the eye care industry needs to create an environment that draws in their patients. That means making eye exams and frame selling an experience that people want, not an experience that they have no choice over. It means specialty staff, environment, and services. With 600 Barnes & Nobles at risk of closing their doors, hundreds of eye care providers must adapt before they face the same fate. The good news is that you offer a wonderful service and meet a specific need of your community. However, making them aware of you and making your office an attractive experience is necessary for your survival. Gordon Duncan is the CEO/Consultant of ProSight Success and has trained employees for nearly 20 years. ProSight Success has several tools to help you with all of this. Our international bestseller, Practice Progress, goes deep into the philosophies above. You can find the paperback at Amazon. However, your best value is the full 7 Step, 7 Book ProSight Success System. We offer it in 3 formats: Digital ProSight Success System Paperback ProSight Success System And our best value: the ProSight Success Workbook that includes a digital copy and a free hour of consulting. Of course, Gordon Duncan, our CEO, is also available for private consulting. Email him at [email protected]. [i] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/as-barnes-and-noble-struggles-to-find-footing-founder-takes-heat/ar-BBLQhsw?ocid=spartanntp Do You Want To Be A Billing and Coding Professional? If So, Here Is How To Handle The Critics8/6/2018 The attraction of the Billing and Coding Industry is its potential for a great income and the possibility of working for yourself. Reaching that potential and accomplishing that possibility requires determination, hard work, and support. That being said that begs the question: What if I don’t have the support I need? Sadly, a lack of support is often the biggest obstacle to the aspiring Billing and Coding professional. That lack of support can look like criticism, skepticism, or even outright judgment, and that lack of support can come from spouses, parents, and even children. So, what do we do in these hurtful situations? First, educate yourself about the profession. The better you understand your profession, the better you can educate those around you. Understand the graduation rates, the job opportunities, the realistic salaries. Talking about these things in any vague way only fuels the critics. Second, find a team of support. Find supporters who don’t heap on anger for your lack of support in other areas. They key is to find people who will encourage you in the tough times and encourage you to persevere. Third, be specific about your goals. Write them down. Specific goals provide perseverance in the tough times. If you want to own your own billing and coding business, write it down. If you want to make $75,000 a year. Write it down. Those goals help remind you why you need to persevere. And when you meet those goals, it will help turn critics into fans. The Billing and Coding profession offers so many benefits to those who work hard. Your critics may not see it, but just remember, nothing succeeds like success. When you meet your goals, they will understand why you did what you do. Please let us know if we can be an encouragement to you. I’m thankful for all of you Billing and Coding Professionals out there. Hang in there, and keep doing the profession proud. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 HealthCare Pro Academy www.jgordonduncan.com www.prosightsuccess.com www.prosightworkbook.com As many of you have noticed (and thanks to everyone who reached out), I haven’t posted or emailed any new content in the past two weeks. And while that time did include some vacation, the time off was purposeful. The time away enabled us to put the final touches on a project that has been 20 years in the making. Releasing Tuesday, September 4th(the day after Labor Day), ProSight Success is launching the world’s first and only customizable eye care management training platform. The genesis of our program comes from my days as an Optometric office manager. On my first day, I knew nothing about eye care management. I had only one eye exam in my life at that point. But through training, hard knocks, mentoring, and consulting with 100’s of eye care professionals, one thing has become clear: When eye care management training is coupled with the experience and wisdom of the doctors, patients are better cared for, office relations improve, and profits increase. Doctors receive incredible training. Managers often don’t, so the only way a dream this big can happen is through a customizable, management training program. So, we have created a six-month program that includes mentoring (done via Skype, Zoom, etc), reading, and testing. All of this is done AFTER interviewing the doctors to see what their staff most needs. We will announce more details in the next week or two as we lead up to launch, but if you have a question, or want to take advantage of an early bird discount, just reply to this email, or better yet, call Gordon at 919-412-8161. Our desire is to enable eye care professionals to enjoy their practices and patients while earning as much profit as possible. We truly believe this ground-breaking program is going to transform your staff, your practice, and the industry. Please contact us if you have any questions. Gordon Duncan 919-412-8161 |
Gordon DuncanGordon Duncan is an award-winning educator, salesman, teacher, manager, and writer. He has taught in the public school system, lobbied for school's accreditation, managed eye clinics, led sales' teams, and also publishes books on theology, church, and culture. Archives
September 2021
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