Eyeworld

SUMMER 2024 | EYEWORLD | 81 P Contact Rabourn: brabourn@medcgroup.com Finally, using HIPAA-approved scheduling software can maximize doctor and staff effi- ciency without losing the benefits of proactive scheduling. It's worth the investment in time and resources to utilize this technology so that staff can spend their time on more important activities that benefit the practice. The end result of proactive patient schedul- ing and recall is higher patient satisfaction, bet- ter care, and increased revenue. With so much to gain, it's worth taking the time and effort to make sure your practice scheduling is operating at peak efficiency. That's why it's important to ensure patients remember their appointments and to fill any vacancies that may arise as soon as possible. A proven way to reduce no-shows and can- cellations is by using appointment reminders. These can take the form of patient phone calls, text messages, emails, or all of these. Be sure to schedule reminders to be sent at least 4–7 days prior to the appointment date. This will help en- sure appointments times are kept, or if a patient needs to cancel, staff will have time to fill the slot with another patient. Use scheduling software Juggling a clinic schedule can take valuable staff time. To avoid this, consider investing in a patient management software package that can automate this process. These software solutions have many capabilities such as sending out au- tomated appointment reminders via phone call, text, or email. This is a great way to keep your patients on track with minimal staff time devot- ed to scheduling tasks. Just be sure the package you choose is HIPAA compliant. Also, invest the time to train staff on the new software to avoid any scheduling disruptions. The benefits Taking the time to develop and implement a proactive scheduling process can significantly benefit your practice in many ways. The most obvious benefit is a reduction in no-shows and being able to fill cancellations with other appointments. At $200–$400 per case, this can quickly add up over the course of a year. Another benefit is patient satisfaction. Being able to keep a regular check-up schedule with patients helps doctors monitor ongoing conditions and overall eye health. Better care also leads to an ongoing and positive patient relationship, which means patients are far less likely to visit another clinic when they have vision problems because they feel comfortable working with a doctor who knows their histo- ry. Establishing this relationship also leads to more procedures over time, which leads to more revenue. I WISH I HAD ... John Hovanesian, MD, Cornea Editorial Board member, shared what he wishes he had: 1. I wish we had a simpler process for prior authorizations when insurance companies reject claims for the drugs patients need. 2. I wish we had office automation that could eliminate the need for doctors star- ing into a computer while with a patient. Kevin Miller, MD, Cataract Editorial Board member, shared what he wishes he had: I wish there were more ways to bill anterior segment OCT imaging procedures to med- ical insurance. There are many new and useful devices on the market, but without the ability to recoup the investment and ongoing operational costs, these devices become prohibitively expensive for the average practitioner to acquire.

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