| You love to go boating and you've always wanted | | | | Your Medical Billing/Practice Management Software is |
| your very own boat. After careful consideration, you | | | | the C-R-U-X of your business! It is the foundation of |
| decide on a 32 foot SeaRay, a very nice cruiser that | | | | your services and income. Do you really believe that |
| will sleep 6 comfortably and pull a couple of skiers on | | | | the software choice shouldn't matter? Do you really |
| the back. Along comes a hot weekend and you are | | | | believe that the software choice should be "cheap?" |
| excited about taking your boat to the lake (where you | | | | Or do you believe that there are some software |
| will dock it for the summer months). You slap a hitch | | | | programs that are simply not designed to support your |
| on the back of your 2001 Volkswagon Beetle and you | | | | business (VW Beetle) and others that may be |
| are able to pull it down the road, about a mile, before | | | | designed specifically for the needs of your business |
| the transmission fails and the back of the beetle falls | | | | (Ford F250)? |
| apart. Now you have a vehicle that requires repair and | | | | Time is Money in this Business... so let me provide you |
| a boat that you cannot get into the water. You're | | | | with an analogy of a software program that is brilliantly |
| pretty much dead in the water until you get real about | | | | designed as a "starter-program" for a single physician's |
| what it will take to efficiently carry your boat. | | | | office (individual database) vs. a software program |
| Had you invested realistically in a 32-valve 6.0-liter | | | | that is designed specifically for the needs of a medical |
| Power Stroke® diesel engine and TorqShift® | | | | billing business which services multiple clients (true |
| transmission available on the Ford F-250 through F-550 | | | | multiple database capability). Let's call the first program |
| pickups and chassis cab which produces horsepower | | | | "Beetle" and the second program, "Ford". |
| of 325 at 3,300 rpm and 560 foot-pounds of torque at | | | | You are a Medical Billing Business owner servicing 3 |
| 2,000 rpm, you would have been "good-to-go" from | | | | separate clients (clients A, B, C). You are sitting in front |
| the very beginning. | | | | of your software program inputting demographics for |
| No, this article is not about boats and trucks that can | | | | a new patient for Client A. Client B calls your office to |
| pull them. | | | | inquire about a claim submitted for one of their patients: |
| I am using an analogy to illustrate a point that is so | | | | Using Beetle: Crud! Why did Client B have to call while |
| oftentimes missed when people decide to enter into | | | | I'm in the middle of entering patient demographics for |
| Medical Billing Business ownership. You simply cannot | | | | Client A? How dare he! Now I will either have to call |
| put the "boat before the horse." The power of the | | | | him back (after I save this record because I don't want |
| horse (business/software decisions) is vital to pulling | | | | to lose it mid-stream) or if I want to provide really good |
| and supporting the boat (the business itself). | | | | service, I'll answer his question now. I close out the |
| Scam Operations and Those Software Resellers | | | | record for Client A and lose the data I've already |
| Who Perpetuate the "Lie" | | | | entered. Now I must close out of this database |
| Why are there so many people who believe that they | | | | completely and then go to my "directories" and open |
| need not invest any more than $500 into a Medical | | | | the database for Client B in order to retrieve the |
| Billing Business, which provides services to | | | | information he is looking for. Okay, I'm finished with the |
| professionals and can produce a 6 figure income? | | | | call. I can now close out the database for Client B, pull |
| Simple. There are enough scam operations and | | | | up my directories, choose Client A and begin |
| software resellers in this industry who stand to profit | | | | re-entering patient data. Oh No! Client C is on the |
| from your $500 who couldn't care less if you succeed. | | | | phone with a question! |
| Their focus is on your $500 and this is how the "lie" is | | | | Using Ford: Not a problem. Simply open the database |
| perpetuated -- it is up to you whether or not to believe | | | | for Client B right on top of Client A, retrieve the |
| it. Upon performing due diligence in the research of | | | | needed information, close the window and continue |
| what it takes to begin and successfully operate a | | | | inputting the patient data for Client A. Client C calls... |
| Medical Billing Business, you should be able to clearly | | | | again, not a problem. |
| see the "lie" for what it is. | | | | As I said before, "time is money in this business." This |
| A Realistic Investment | | | | analogy illustrates single vs. multiple database |
| So what is a realistic investment for such a business? I | | | | capabilities but there are many other areas of your |
| have always maintained that your investment needs to | | | | software program to consider... i.e. reporting capabilities, |
| be proportionate to your expected return! What kind | | | | database manipulation, etc. |
| of monetary return can you expect from a $500 | | | | Many of you will ask if you can start with the Beetle |
| investment? Is there someone out there who is going | | | | and then get the Ford later. You will end up spending |
| to give you a brand new 2007 Ford F250 in exchange | | | | more money in the long-run and you will be converting |
| for your 2001 broken down VW Beetle with a failed | | | | your data from Beetle to Ford in the middle of |
| transmission? Certainly not! You could keep putting | | | | business growth --- not to mention learning how to |
| money into your VW Beetle and each time it has been | | | | drive the Ford during the growth of your business. You |
| fully repaired, carry the boat down the road for | | | | would need to decide if this is a feasible route to take. I |
| another mile, but how much sense would that make? | | | | would, in my opinion, opt against that route because I |
| Wouldn't you eventually end up spending more than if | | | | entered into the business decision realistically knowing |
| you would have simply done it right the first time | | | | that I needed the Ford. |
| around? Yes, you would --- and you would eventually | | | | In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with an |
| reach the point of diminished return. | | | | inexpensive software program designed for a single |
| Your Medical Billing/Practice Management Software | | | | physician's office. These programs are in high demand |
| Choice | | | | and are very useful in the appropriate setting. |
| There are Medical Billing Forums all over the place and | | | | Carefully Review Your Options Prior to Beginning Your |
| on many of these forums, individuals will ask about | | | | Business |
| "medical billing/practice management" software | | | | It is a good idea to evaluate and review your options |
| programs that can be used in a medical billing business | | | | prior to beginning your business. Monetary investments |
| setting. I cringe every time the responder eludes that | | | | will vary based upon your goals. Perhaps you are a |
| "software doesn't matter" or advises the reader "not | | | | stay-at-home parent simply looking to supplement |
| to spend too much on software." What? If you see | | | | another household income and you are fine with |
| this type of response, take a look around and see if | | | | servicing a couple of clients. Or, you might find yourself |
| the forum is an extension of a web presence which is | | | | on the other end of this spectrum, wishing to become |
| selling "inexpensive" software programs. Try to | | | | a million dollar operation. Your investment simply needs |
| determine what the responder may be getting out of | | | | to be proportionate to your expected return. |
| providing such irresponsible advice! | | | | |