Stop complaining and do something!

August 15, 2012

Steve, You are being very harsh to those of us who, for various reasons, have

tried to set up shop in difficult areas and work within the third-party

insurance system that most patients rely on to help them pay for their care.

Some quick checking of 2010 census figures tells me that stown-Lenola, NJ

has about 14,200 people with a per capita annual income of $47,000 and 3% of

people living below the poverty level. My small town of 1400 is not listed, but

my entire county has a per capita income of $24,600 and 9.6% living below

poverty level. You have a lot more people to draw from, at all income levels,

which increases your chance of attracting enough cash-only people to keep you

afloat. I chose this location for family reasons, and I now know this was a huge

mistake. I suspect that is why most of us who are struggling stay in

unfavorable locations. If I had chosen the small college city 30 minutes away, I

would now be attempting to switch to some other payment model, and I believe it

would work. Due to my older age and now-precarious financial situation, I don't

have it in me to start another risky venture in a new location after 4 years.

My " complaining " is not so much to garner sympathy, as to warn IMP wannabees not

to make the mistakes that I did. I think we should be here to support and

educate each other, not to disparage each other and think that " one size fits

all. " Remember that you have not really been " 3rd party-free. " It has taken you

4 years to get frustrated enough to dump Medicare, and I wonder how many

patients and how much income you will lose because of that. I assume you have

estimated what that will be and decided you can live with and recover from it in

time. For those of us who have estimated what will happen if we drop insurances

and cannot live with the results, give us the courtesy of not assuming that we

are just plain blind. It's OK to remind us that there is another way, but let us

get there in our own time, as you did in yours.---Sharlene

> > >

> > > He's the current invited speaker

> > >

> > > https://app.sermo.com/posts/posts/141820

> > >

> > > so you can quiz him directly.

> > >

> > > --

> > > Graham Chiu

> > > http://www.compkarori.co.nz:8090/

> > > Synapse - the use from anywhere EMR.

> > >

> > > --

> > > Graham Chiu

> > > http://www.compkarori.co.nz:8090/

> > > Synapse - the use from anywhere EMR.

> > >

> > > --

> > > Graham Chiu

> > > http://www.compkarori.co.nz:8090/

> > > Synapse - the use from anywhere EMR.

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------

> > >

August 16, 2012

i do see what steve is saying and i know there has to be solutions and we can do

something as he had done.

however, steve's practice of cash-only is not sustainable in all counties. in

fact there is an " IMP " the only one in my county that charge $45 $75 $100 and he

is almost 'done'.

my town is a retirement town and interestingly even though these are second

homers they are constantly and consistently relying on medicare to pay for stuff

when i know some have lamps weighing heavier than i do in their houses...

cash only practices, retainer fee practices is something ive looked at 6 years

ago and is not sustainable in my area. if i was a hairdresser, i would do well

since hair upkeep is something of value here.

i shouldve wouldve thought twice in picking this demographics but i didnt look

ahead. if sharlene didnt raise her issues and steve didnt give us this rant, my

issues would be repeated by IMP wannabees..

so how do you check sustainability of a certain type of practice in a certain

demographic??

i pose this question to the group.. since this is really the question for

starters.

grace

August 16, 2012

Grace,What do you love doing that is valued in your area? That's the sweet spot.

It sounds like there is money that people could spent if they see the value.....and I bet you have a lot of valuable services you could offer......

How did you determine a retainer practice wouldn't work 6 years ago?

Just a few questions to hopefully open up a few possibilities for you.

Sharon

Sharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA 92617PH: (949)387-5504 Fax: (949)281-2197 Toll free phone/fax: www.SharonMD.com

i do see what steve is saying and i know there has to be solutions and we can do something as he had done.

however, steve's practice of cash-only is not sustainable in all counties. in fact there is an " IMP " the only one in my county that charge $45 $75 $100 and he is almost 'done'.

my town is a retirement town and interestingly even though these are second homers they are constantly and consistently relying on medicare to pay for stuff when i know some have lamps weighing heavier than i do in their houses...

cash only practices, retainer fee practices is something ive looked at 6 years ago and is not sustainable in my area. if i was a hairdresser, i would do well since hair upkeep is something of value here.

i shouldve wouldve thought twice in picking this demographics but i didnt look ahead. if sharlene didnt raise her issues and steve didnt give us this rant, my issues would be repeated by IMP wannabees..

so how do you check sustainability of a certain type of practice in a certain demographic??

i pose this question to the group.. since this is really the question for starters.

grace

August 16, 2012

and, once you find that sweet spot, how do you present it to others so it is perceived to be the true desirable value that it is? Not to hammer on about "marketing" but in these geographical areas that are iffy economically for IMPs, using authentic marketing strategies makes sense to me. Carla To: Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:00 AM Subject: Re: Re: Stop complaining and do something!

Grace,What do you love doing that is valued in your area? That's the sweet spot.

It sounds like there is money that people could spent if they see the value.....and I bet you have a lot of valuable services you could offer......

How did you determine a retainer practice wouldn't work 6 years ago?

Just a few questions to hopefully open up a few possibilities for you.

Sharon

Sharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA 92617PH: (949)387-5504 Fax: (949)281-2197 Toll free phone/fax: www.SharonMD.com

i do see what steve is saying and i know there has to be solutions and we can do something as he had done.

however, steve's practice of cash-only is not sustainable in all counties. in fact there is an "IMP" the only one in my county that charge $45 $75 $100 and he is almost 'done'.

my town is a retirement town and interestingly even though these are second homers they are constantly and consistently relying on medicare to pay for stuff when i know some have lamps weighing heavier than i do in their houses...

cash only practices, retainer fee practices is something ive looked at 6 years ago and is not sustainable in my area. if i was a hairdresser, i would do well since hair upkeep is something of value here.

i shouldve wouldve thought twice in picking this demographics but i didnt look ahead. if sharlene didnt raise her issues and steve didnt give us this rant, my issues would be repeated by IMP wannabees..

so how do you check sustainability of a certain type of practice in a certain demographic??

i pose this question to the group.. since this is really the question for starters.

grace

August 16, 2012

Good question Carla. I've been learning alot about this very topic this year and am preparing to share ideas soon.....Sharon

and, once you find that sweet spot, how do you present it to others so it is perceived to be the true desirable value that it is? Not to hammer on about " marketing " but in these geographical areas that are iffy economically for IMPs, using authentic marketing strategies makes sense to me.

Carla

To:

Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:00 AM Subject: Re: Re: Stop complaining and do something!