a quiet, efficient machine

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if you get calls all day about prescriptions and problems, etc, then some doctor and patient training may be appropriate.i have significantly reduced prescription refill requests by telling patients when i want to see them back, and that i am prescribing sufficient medication through that time. if they find that their medication is getting low, that is a trigger for them to call and make an appointment if they have not heard from my assistant. i use visit cycle intervals to make sure there is follow up; my assistant calls to schedule the patient when it's appropriate to be seen next, unless the next appointment has been made prior to the patient leaving the office the previous visit.i don't use call reminders; when a patient makes an appointment, i expect them to keep it; i certainly do.i have significantly reduced other problems by dealing with everything which needs to be dealt with, at the patient encounter. if someone needs to have

something addressed, then they either come in for another appointment, or leave it until the next visit.most of the time, that works well; unfortunately a lot of other people have a lot of forms they want patients to fill out, and i am in the process of figuring out how to either reduce/eliminate that and charge for it.i actually don't want the phone ringing off the hook throughout the day; i expect my assistant to make the calls to schedule patients at the intervals i've designated, an occasional call where a patient has an acute problem and needs to come in, and essentially no faxed refill requests.i want a quiet office where i can focus on my work, i am on time, my patients have my undivided attention, where my assistant works independently, and everything gets done.can you do this without an assistant?probably, however you will have disciplined to enforce rules which permit you that luxury.hope that's helpful.LLGraham Chiu

wrote: Redirect all calls to an answerphone so that you can deal with them in your own sweet time. On Feb 19, 2008 6:05 PM, <DocSingh760aol> wrote: > > > > > > > > I was told by the "experts" to always verify insurances before the paient is > seen. I don't have EMR but am looking into it fo rthe summer. The problem > is I now have 900 patients and get calls all day regarding prescriptions, > problems,

etc. > > If I don't have staff how will I deal with phone calls > > > > > ________________________________ > Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL > Living. -- Graham Chiu http://www.synapsedirect.com Synapse - the use from anywhere EMR.

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