Private Practice Economic Strategy - Document Available

December 19, 2008

All,

Over recent months we have seen an increase in the

uninsured/underinsured population due to job loss and COBRA coverage

expiration, patients have begun delaying or foregoing a number of

healthcare services due to financial hardship, and we've seen a slowing

of payments to PT practices for services rendered as patients make

difficult decisions about which bills to pay first.

These elements, along with a tightening of the credit markets necessary

to help private practices in times like these, have placed many

practices in a tight financial position. In an attempt to mitigate the

effects of the slowing economy on PT's in private practice, we've

created a short, self-directed document that addresses a few of the

critical issues relevant to the economic conditions we are facing.

has uploaded the document to the " Files " area of the PTManager

Yahoo Group (see left margin for the link), titled

" Private_Practice_Economic_Strategy.pdf. "

The document addresses the areas of reimbursement, patient/payer mix,

cash position, economic opportunities/threats, and marketing

performance, and suggests some simple metrics to calculate for your

practice, as well as some questions and tips to consider in the

development of your 2009 strategic plan. Finally, the document provides

space to outline a few specific action steps that your practice can take

to address each area.

Despite the obvious concern that we likely all share during these

economic times, we have to realize that these conditions also create for

our profession a significant amount of opportunity as patients look for

lower cost, conservative, and even preventative healthcare options - all

of which we are well positioned to provide.

I hope you find the document helpful, and don't hesitate to ask if you

have questions or need clarifications.

Sincerely,

Tannus Quatre PT, MBA

Vantage Clinical Solutions, Inc.

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