more on work and pay

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an additional thought--as i've mentioned previously, i interview all new patients, the "meet-'n'-greet", for about 15-20 min, at no charge, where we discuss what the patient is looking for, what experiences they've had, what i can offer, that they must pay their bills, etc, in order to determine if it is appropriate to form a professional relationship.annie, have you done that? that would be a great opportunity to clarify this very issue, and make it clear who has what responsibility. yes, the specialists may still attempt to dump on you, and your response can be "that to provide appropriate care, prescriptions will only be filled at the time of the encounter and with the doctor's possession of appropriate documentation, including any tests, if needed."you could make it part of "our guidelines", and/or an adjunct to the "authorization for treatment and release of benefits", signed and witnessed.perhaps there is still another way--you are, as

are the rest of us, in business. it's hard, and not everyone can or should be in business for themselves. if it's too much, work for someone else, either the county clinic, where you've already interviewed, and you don't have to worry about getting paid and which patients can afford what, or for some shark of an organization, where you'll be told what and how much to produce. the disadvantage to both of those opportunities is that they may beat you up and force your acceptance (at least on the surface) of anything you think is wrong with those systems. and if you do protest, they may tear you up and spit you out without a second thought.you do deserve better, but only if you stand up for yourself. be strong, be tough, or give up."if i am not for myself, then who? if not now, when?"-- Hillel"that which does not kill me, makes me stronger"--NietzscheLL Beck

wrote: Why don't this group set up "Rules of engagement" Laws that are based on patient safey, integrity and financially sound and go by them. I, too, experience that phenomena of the conflict between "Good customer service and doing right by the patient." Standards have to be set and they have to be guarded. This should be industry wide but it is not and you will loose patients. However, If done appropriately you will foster long term relationships with the kind of patient that you will enjoy caring for. When that happens, take care of the people

who understand what is going on to the fullest of your ability. They will spread the word. This will lead to quality over quantity. TSB --- Jim Bury <jimburysbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote: > Annie- > > Reading your post and its replies raised my blood > pressure. While not to the extent of your reports, > I have had to deal with some of the same issues. > > My $0.02 is similar to that of LL here. My belief > is that it is more important to be respected than it > is to be liked, by either the patient or the > consultant. If we allow ourselves to be door mats, > then that his how we will be perceived and treated > in the future. If patients leave your practice when > you stand up for what you believe is good care and > fair treatment for you efforts, then good riddance. > Surely,

demographics and the shortage of primary > care doctors (and good ones like you especially), > will work to your favor in time. > > This may be easy for me to say as I am not in your > shoes, but I believe all of us are in similar > situations, though they may differ in degree. If > all of us stood up to this assault, we would surely > have an effect on things. > > Please don't be offended by my comments, as I don't > mean to be condescending, preachy or patronizing; my > purpose is merely to be supportive and to let you > know that you are not alone in this matter. Having > met you once this year, I can sense that you are a > fine physician and a person of integrity, and you > deserve better. > > Jim > > lawrence lyon <llyonmd> wrote: > > annie, BE TOUGH-- > REQUIRE a good working relationship with EVERYONE, > patients and specialists, like joanne says. end > relationships that don't work out. > require patients to be seen, you are responsible > for what you prescribe. > be well-versed in what you know and do, like lou > says. > no visit, no specialist notes, no follow-up, no > prescription. > if that leaves you with no patient, GOOD RIDDANCE. > better to not be paid for work you're not doing > rather than be liable and not be paid for work you > are doing. > RESPECT YOURSELF, value yourself, be firm, and > others will respect how you work, and the work you > do. don't enable others' bad behavior, whether > doctor or patient. > LL > ps-- one last thing-- JUST DO IT! > > > > > > >

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