Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The End of an Era

I disconnected the last of my remaining VONAGE lines today, the phone that sat in my house and served as an office line, just one that happended to be in my house.

It feels a bit sad, nostalgic almost.  While VONAGE was the source of much of my telecom pain in the early and not-so-early days of my fledgling urology practice, it was VONAGE's then avant-guard service that enabled me to grow in those first critical months cheaply and mobily.

In many ways, it was VONAGE that put me on the map.  And for that, I thank them.

Ultimately, I outgrow its capabilities, however.

For the past few months, as I have been looking to cut cost whereever possible, VONAGE was always near the chopping block, but the off-site line still served a function, even though improvements in cell phone reliablity  at my house enabled me to make and receive calls from almost any room in my house.

Still, I held a special place in my heart for this little phone company that could, silly as it seems.

Then my VONAGE router died--just went kerplunk--and that was the catalyst.

Several minutes ago, I called and canceled my service.

Fairwell old friend.

Dr Schoor

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dwindling Down My Paper Usage

I am down to two!  Pieces of paper that is.  Everything else is the glorious e.

Patient records--electronic

Radiology reports--electronic only

Lab reports--electronic only

Patient intake & demographic form--electronic (actually, I don't even have one.  I got rid of it.)

HIPAA acknowledgement form--electronic, signature and all!

Consents--electronic

Patient statements--electronic.  They are actually mailed on paper, just not be me or my staff.

ABN (Assigment of benefits) consent form--you guessed it, electronic.

That is it.

So what is still paper?

We still send claims for secondary insurance by paper.

My biller insists on continuing to use paper encounter forms.  Alright.  If it ain't broke. . .

Dr Schoor

Unintended Email Consequence

My staff has been getting email addresses from patients.  Over the past few months, they collected 212 emails--not too shabby.  Thanks guys!

Yesterday I uploaded the email addresses to my email management site and sent the patients a confirmation email (I don;t want to be a spammer, so the patients must opt-in again to confirm they wish to be on my email list).

Most people have opted in, but what I did not expect was the number of emails from patients regarding billing issues.

It seems I have awakened a sleeping dog.

Saturday, January 09, 2010

I get it, I think.

I think I finally "get" Twitter.  Or at least I figured how I plan to use this seemingly inane service that millions love.

Twitter is best used when the tweeter draws attention toward someone else, rather than himself.

The "I'm at Starbucks" tweet is boring and useless.  On the other hand, the "check at this new gadget" tweet, well that might be interesting.

As in any form of marketing, the best type places attention on the other person, rather than the marketer himself.

Better to be "how can I help you?" than "how can you help me?"

Friday, January 01, 2010

New Years Resolutions

Try these on for size:

1: Go E.H.R.
2: Improve your E.H.R.
3: Start PQRI
4: Decipher "meaningful use"
5: See more patients or...
6: See less patients
7: Learn 10 new codes
8: Get rid of 1 piece of paper
9: Do away with 1 process
10: Write a book

Happy New Year

Dr S

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