Re: Coming Changes / possible solution

[Guest guest]

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > We are overwhelmed.

> > >

> > > Our database of preop patients contains over 1500 patients and

we

> > get 5-10

> > > completed new patients applications per day.

> > >

> > > I get over 500 emails per day and I simply cannot answer all of

> > them.

> > >

> > > Even with the expected addition of three new staff members and

> > operating in

> > > two rooms during the day our office is overwhelmed with new

> > patients.

> > >

> > > While this seems good at first blush, I am afraid that I can no

> > longer keep

> > > up good quality care that I want to provide.

> > >

> > > I have to use some method of decreasing my patient load.

> > >

> > > To try and decrease our patient load we have already stopped

doing

> > elective

> > > revisions of other types of failed weight loss surgery and have

> > become

> > > stricter in relation to our weight and age limits. In the past

we

> > had taken

> > > out a few small local advertisements and we have pulled all of

> > these to try

> > > and decrease new patient appointments.

> > >

> > > We still have many more patients than I could ever possibly

take

> > care of.

> > >

> > > I have reviewed my practice in detail and I have talked with

Debbie

> > about

> > > what she does and what she likes and doesn't like about the

job.

> > >

> > > Clearly the most time consuming and unpleasant part of the job

is

> > dealing

> > > with the insurance companies.

> > >

> > > Therefore, our tentative plan is to move over the next month to

no

> > longer

> > > accept insurance payment for the surgery. We could still

provide

> > the preop

> > > letters to patients and help patients file for insurance

> > reimbursement post

> > > procedure but our efforts in this area would be limited to

> > submitting the

> > > bill to the company. This would eliminate a tremendous amount

of

> > frustration

> > > and paper work. The ridiculous amount of time and effort spent

on

> > hold and

> > > trying to address the Byzantine rules and regulations dreamed

up by

> > > insurers would be eliminated.

> > >

> > > I would be interested in advice and suggestions about this

plan.

> > >

> > > I recognize that many patients will be prevented from having

the

> > surgery, at

> > > this time but I can only do so many operations and I do not

want to

> > > compromise the quality of the care that I provide.

> > >

> > > Please give me your thoughts and feelings about this very

difficult

> > issue.

> > >

> > > RR

> > >

> > > Rutledge, M.D., F.A.C.S.

> > > The Center for Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

> > > 4301 Ben lin Blvd.

> > > Durham, N.C. 27704

> > > Telephone #:

> > > Fax #:

> > > Email: DrR@c...

> > >

> > > ************************************************

> > > Please Visit our Web site: http://clos.net

> > > ************************************************

> > >

> > > Durham Regional Hospital:

> > >

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