The cost of running a medical practice has skyrocketed over the years. In this same time period, the reimbursement for our services has declined tremendously. While many of us may generate the same or more gross revenue than we did years ago, we have done so only by increasing our through-put; ie the number of patient encounters that we see per year. Clearly, this compensatory mechanism is limited, unsustainable and ultimately very costly to us doctors both personally and professionally. In addition, our patients pay a high price as well in terms of their declining satisfaction, decreasing access, and an increase in adverse outcomes. Like being on an desert island with a limited water supply, if you want live for many years to come, you better get off the island. If you are a doctor and want to be around and happy in years to come, get off the island while you still can.
My name is Richard A Schoor MD FACS and I am The Independent Urologist and a solo practice survivalist. I have been in some tough jams over the past few years and have come out stronger and more resilient than ever. Recently, I and many other doctors, survived a 10.6% Medicare pay cut. Of course the actual income loss, factoring in decreased reimbersements from private insurers that were sure to follow Medicare's lead, would have been closer to 20%. For many of us, that would have been death. What does this mean?
It means that the future is clear. It means that you best start building your raft and planning your escape.
How do you do escape? You plan.
You know what the future will bring if you stay the course, so that is not an option. But you probably know others who seem to have your "dream practice" and these doctors' practices can serve as templates for you to emulate. Simply call them and ask them "how'd you do it." More likely than not, they'll tell you, especially if you are not among their direct competitors. Ask them how they built their practice, which marketing vehicles were beneficial and which stunk, if they negotiated with payers or just took the cash-only plunge, how they dealt with referral sources; anything you can think to ask them. In my experience, these people are proud of their accomplishments, as they should be, and are glad to talk to about themselves. If you have a blog, offer them a guest post. If they don't have time to write, you offer to write about them and to provide their website with inbound links and a favorable web-plug.
When you have done your homework, then you must develop your own plan. And you must commit your plan to pen and paper. Once your plan is written down, it will take on a life of its own and become a reality. If nothing else, at least you'll feel like your fighting and not just being swept along, for whatever that is worth.
January 2010: a storm is coming. Will it kill you or will you be prepared?
Make the plan. Be prepared. Live. Thrive.
Thanks.
The IU.
