Case 1

Within a short time after opening his practice a young Dakota doctor was seeing 70-100 patients per day – acute care, wellness, every kind of walk-in – in a balance of about 75 percent insurance and 25 percent cash payment.

Unfortunately, practice revenue didn’t reflect the high patient volume. Overtime and capacity issues were constant problems. Days were long and the doctor was getting tired of working so hard for so little revenue.

A practice coach recommended he call in a consultant. When the consultant arrived on-site, several factors quickly became apparent:

Inadequate understanding of the billing codes was impacting the strength of the treatment documentation, sometimes calling his charges into question.

Insecurity about what to bill and how to bill often led to the doctor to undercode when he felt charges might be contested.

When legitimate charges were actually challenged the doctor, like most chiropractors, simply accepted the lower payment or denial without fighting back.

The consultant initiated a turnaround that set the practice on a new course. It began with a review and analysis of procedures in place, the way responsibilities were deployed, and continued with an intensive education in proper coding and documentation.

Procedures were adjusted to optimize efficiency and a number of new forms were put in place. Additional treatment procedures were instituted that were not only remunerative but which were also supportive of the clinic’s diagnoses and treatment plans. And a technology solution was installed in the office to streamline both clinical and business tasks.

The doctor now sees about 35 patients per day, per-patient revenue has increased by 40 percent, each patient gets more time and attention, and office paperwork has been reduced by 95 percent. Where not long ago, days often stretched into evenings, the doctor now maintains a 3.5-4 day/week office schedule.

Case 2

A Pennsylvania doctor tired of the endless paperwork in his practice and retired to Florida. Missing his professional life, he decided to resume it but this time without the paper, allowing him to automate notes and reporting complete with coding and compliance support.

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