June 19, 2011. Paul Hixon
credit: arantxamexRunning a medical office is often isn’t considered as difficult as it is. Because many businesses never have to deal with insurance, they never have to consider the many difficulties that can come along with it.
This is why there are medical billing services out there, to help doctors take their minds off of where their money is coming in from and focus on their patients. The more I learn about the medical industry, the more I realize that there are some complications involved that really do create a sad scenario.
While I am inclined, like many, to lump doctors into a group of people that just want to be rich, the fact is that most just want to help people. This is why it is so sad to me that many doctors have to deal with the complications of running an office, instead of being able to simply focus on doing what they went to school for: to be a doctor. Running a medical office can have many complications that if not dealt with, can lead to the collapse of the business. I know that is a crazy concept to some people out there, but doctor offices do shut down.
They aren’t guaranteed businesses. They can fail. The intricacies of running a medical office are extensive. There is insurance, there is scheduling and there is being a doctor. Any of those things could have a book written on them, but when you combine them, you end up with a mountain of problems to consider. The largest issue in my mind is the medical billing. Insurance companies are complicated, and I think most people can imagine that being the case. If you have ever dealt with insurance just to go to the doctor you know that they can be hard. But when you are actually trying to collect money from the insurance company as a doctor, you are going to find a whole host of difficulties.
The complications of doing medical billing services is why many medical practice consultants may recommend only dealing with certain insurance companies and if not that, using medical billing services. For most people the concept of only accepting certain insurance providers seems very near “wrong” as a doctor, as if it is a moral dilemma that is happening. In our culture we associate doctors with individuals led by moral compasses, and while that hopefully is the case, the fact of the matter is they also are businesses. For some medical operations they will realistically have to consider either accepting all insurance providers, or staying in business.
Should medicine be a business? I have my opinions, but I don’t think that is relevant here because the fact is that they are and we have to deal with them that way. If you are a doctor running a private practice, I would recommend considering consultants. Running a practice is complex and your schooling most likely didn’t prepare you for it. One person can only do so much, and as a doctor, you pretty well have your plate full. If you’re a man, you also probably have something in your brain that is very resistant to bringing in a consultant because you think you should be able to do it yourself. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you should probably kill that part of your brain.
With the right people you will be able to build a great practice, but if you are stretched to the limit you are going to start making mistakes and you may have a nervous breakdown. Neither of those things are good. So, consider your options. Things like a consultant and medical billing services may make your life much better but you won’t know if you don’t try.
Updated June 19, 2011. Published April 14, 2011. Paul Hixon
