Physical Therapy Management & Physical Therapy Documentation

Physical Therapy Marketing: Limiting Exposure to Bad Payers

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Mar 29, 2019 | Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Management, Physical Therapy Marketing

Searching for the best insurance companies maybe hard to find, but it doesn’t mean that they do not exist. Nitin Chhoda exposes simple techniques on how to identify and contract with the best payers so that your practice will have continuous income.

Knowing the bad payers when it comes to your physical therapy practice is not as hard as you might think. Nitin Chhoda reveals ways you can recognize bad payers in order to avoid them, and spend more of your time caring for patients.

Every physical therapy marketing in a practice goes through the process of determining which are the best paying insurance companies. You may find that one of the best ways to learn about bad payers is by asking around.

Of course, you may not feel like going into the competitor’s office as part of the physical therapy marketing plan, but there are ways to get information that don’t involve any risk.

Call Around to Other Healthcare Service Providers

The best information will come from other physical therapy marketing services and practices. Some insurance companies may have better policies for certain types of medical care than others.

However, if you are unsure about contacting other physical therapy managers and owners, you can also talk to those healthcare providers that you already have a relationship with.

Are there other physical therapy marketing and management offices where you refer your patients to when they need a different kind of care? Do surgeons or specialists send their patients to you when they need physical therapy?

Get in touch with the people you know and ask them a few questions about their best payers and their worst. Most professionals will be happy to share the information.

Same State, Different City

Another way to get good information is to get in touch with other physical therapy marketing services of other practices that are in the same state as you, but in a different city or town. This may feel a bit awkward at first, but the benefits of learning about bad payers are well worth a little confusion.

Remember to talk to the other managers as your peers. Remind them that you’re all in the same boat and you think this kind of information should be shared so that you can all avoid insurance companies that are bad at paying their bills.

In fact, you may find that someone has started to compile a list already. There tend to be way more resources out there than you expect – it’s just a question of finding them.

It may be that a local physical therapy marketing business group has already identified some of the worst and best payers and they might be willing to share the list with you. You never know if you don’t try.

Start a List of Your Own

Of course as you go, you will learn which companies you prefer and which seem to always reject your claims.

Keep track of those companies, mostly for your own physical therapy marketing practice and so you can adjust who you contract with, but also because perhaps one day someone will call your office asking for advice.

Physical therapy marketing in a practice can benefit from working together, and in some cases a good deed will pay dividends. If a practice becomes overwhelmed with new patients, perhaps they will send some your way if you’ve done them a favor in the past.

Running a healthy and thriving physical therapy practice is a lot of work. There are some very important decisions to make, and they will keep coming. The more you can work with others and build relationships with those payers that are good, the better off your physical therapy marketing practice will be.

Health Care Management at Its Best

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Mar 7, 2019 | Healthcare Practice Management, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Management

Producing reports for health care management in order to monitor efficiency of therapists and staff are now possible.

Nitin Chhoda explains how physical therapy EMR changes the productivity and efficiency of physical therapy practice by reviewing the number of patients who have been treated during a certain period of time.

With an incredible array of technological tools at the ready, there is no reason why health care practice management can’t undergo a renaissance.

In a small practice, the office manager can also serve as patient relations, interpersonal coach, HR manager, and accountant.

But with electronic medical records, the health care manager may become the financial analyst as well. In fact, analyzing efficiency, strengths, and weaknesses of the practice may be the top priority for the health care management field.

How Reporting Improves Efficiency

Both internally and with patients, an EMR can improve efficiency just by virtue of eliminating the majority of paperwork. Communication is streamlined and things like medical billing and coding can be handled more quickly and with fewer mistakes. But for health care management, EMRs are introducing tools that change the way we think about managing a practice.

An EMR with reporting capabilities can tell health care management professionals a lot about how the practice is doing. Outcomes and performance of clinicians and patients can be compared with a few clicks.

In the past, it would have been almost insurmountable to extract data on visits per referral and visits per day for each clinician. With the new practice management technology, those reports can be run quickly and simply.

In fact, there are a whole host of important indicators that are being monitored by the software solutions designed for health care management. Most of these indicators can help office managers to see where the lags in efficiency are hiding.

Inefficiencies degrease profitability, and decreased profitability is bad for everyone. The information gathered can be shared with staff members and solutions can be discussed with health care management.

If used appropriately, technological management tools can help turn a practice that is just getting by into a profitable enterprise. From changing the way that medical billing is handled to using proven techniques to speed up recovery and improve outcomes, health care management tools are going to go a long way towards revolutionizing the business side of medicine.

Educational Experience

With an increased emphasis on technology, more and more individuals who want to pursue a career in health care management are going back to school.

The job has no educational requirements, but a bachelor’s degree and even a master’s degree are not uncommon.

There are specific programs now that will education students about the pitfalls and advantages available to adaptable health care management.

As the job market widens, these are the professionals that will be handling health care management jobs. And because the role of health care management professionals is changing so quickly, there is a lot of room for improvement in most health care practices.

The office manager has the job of ensuring that things run smoothly and if there are problems, the office manager needs to work with staff to find solutions. A health care management professional who understands the benefits of current technology will have more tools for finding solutions than ever before.

Electronic Medical Records System: How Many Actually Uses It?

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Jan 27, 2019 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Management

Many private practice owners still have not switched over to an electronic medical records system. Perhaps most of them thought that having an automated system would be complicated.

Nitin Chhoda shares how physical therapy software can help your practice in the long run using the right implementation.

Electronic medical records is a new and modern way in a private practice business, while paper medical record systems still dominate the market.

However, the fact is that paper medical records are waning fast.

Paper documentation systems are a relic of time when physical therapists didn’t have the choice of simple, efficient, and precise EMR software.

The Current Status of EMR System

At the moment, only 10% of those practicing in health care fields have a fully functioning electronic medical records system. As of 2009, 20% had the most basic beginnings of a system, but still relied heavily on paper documentation.

Over the past three years it is likely that that percentage is growing, or that many systems have been updated. A more remarkable statistic is that only 1.5% of hospitals have integrated IT systems.

Half of those that do are government facilities, meaning that private practices are lagging behind. Most private practices are staffed by about 9 people, however, which makes that number less shocking.

With so few facilities using electronic medical records technology, you might wonder why you should adopt it in the first place.

The fact is that while very few firms might run physical therapy management software, there are still a number of advantages for those that do. Electronic medical records improve efficiency, accuracy, and quality of care.

Implementing the Electronic Medical Record

Any practice that implements electronic medical records software benefits from digitized records: easy access to patient information, the ability to sign patients in instantaneously, and massively improved handling of cancellations and no-show patients.

Electronic medical records simplify the life of a physical therapist by making it easy to manage patients, data, and finances. And you have the incredible ability to access your patient’s files and tests with the press of a button, instantaneously pulling up all the records you have on each patient.

In some offices, the physical therapists simply carry an iPad around, and type in the name of the patient before you walk into the room, instantly reviewing a listing of all pertinent information. Electronic medical records make patient care simpler and more effective.

You’ll also be handling records that are type-written, rather than hand-written. A surprising number of mistakes are made by physical therapists and physicians because they just couldn’t read the notes in a medical record.

But electronic medical records systems for physical therapy management aren’t just good for your firm. With a simple piece of software, you can send and receive complete records between offices. Download the software, press a few buttons, and another facility has the files. It really is that simple. EMR data management solutions ensure that everyone who cares for a patient always has the most recent information.

EMR is the Solution

When the number of firms with the technology reaches a certain point, the perception will be that every firm needs an EMR solution.

You can get ahead of the trend now by starting the process and going electronic for you, your patients, and the entire practice.

But even if your physical therapy office is unique in being equipped with medical records solution, electronic medical records would still be helpful. More and more facilities are adopting EMR for physical therapy services, and soon we will see a shift.

Physical Therapy Management for Physical Therapy Practices

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Jan 16, 2019 | Healthcare Practice Management, Physical Therapy Management

Manual physical therapy documentation can be time consuming. The trend has been for physical therapists to focus on the admin side instead of providing quality care to patients.

Nitin Chhoda says that it’s about time to use physical therapy software so that practitioners can maximize their time treating patients and increase productivity.

For most private practices especially physical therapists who see patients two to three times a week, managing physical therapy billing, dealing with medical billing and coding can be a challenge.

Having a Physical Therapy Software

With physical therapy management software, you can simplify the business side and spend more time doing what you really love, which is working with patients.

You probably are accustomed to using paper records. Perhaps you believe that there is a price barrier to adopting an electronic medical records keeping solution. But the truth is: using physical therapy management software will actually save you money.

Lets ignore the cost of office supplies for a second. Paper records take up lots and lots of space. With that much paperwork, pulling up the information on any given client is a slow and tedious process.

Even if you have a small practice, physical therapy management software can drastically cut back on the time it takes you to locate a patient file and make updates to it. You can also access the records from anywhere, meaning that you can look up a record when not in the office without bothering whoever you have tasked to maintain your records.

Everything is Digitized

Digital records are also more likely to be accurate and read accurately, since you no longer have to rely on handwritten notes. Being able to read the records means better care for patients. That is a great physical therapy management plan.

Physical therapy management systems can even include full digital check-in for the patient, logging when they arrive and leave. This can be done from any computer or iPad, meaning that you can use the physical therapy management system for house calls, too.

Simply by pulling up an online or on-the-computer record, you have quick access to the history and details of any patient you are about to see. Paperless physical therapy management is elegant and straight-forward.

Solid physical therapy management and scheduling software even simplifies the more complicated aspects of running a physical therapy firm, like managing no-shows and cancellations, and filing paperwork with other offices, insurance companies, and healthcare services.

Proper physical therapy management software makes it easy to delete a cancelled appointment, file Medicare updates for patients, and never get rejected for claims because of technicalities. Physical therapy management systems streamline your business processes and help you to care for more patients, more efficiently. A program that saves you time will save you money.

Integrated Billing

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of a physical therapy management system is the integration of billing tools.

High quality systems offer a complete physical therapy billing tool that is built into the management tools, so that no matter what you need it is right at your fingertips.

You can include a suite of analysis tools to help you manage payment better. You can figure out how quickly your average patient pays their bills, for example. These tools are critical to helping you run your business as smoothly and as financially responsible as possible.

If you have a physical therapy practice, you need an electronic medical record system. If you start now you can get everything set for the 2014 HITECH Act deadlines. Computers and the Internet have revolutionized how business is done. Embrace that fact and let it make your practice better. Have the best physical therapy management plan.

Physical Therapy Management: Understanding the Patient Healthcare System in the United States

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Dec 16, 2018 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Management

Nitin Chhoda discusses the current patient healthcare system in the United States. He explains how the current system will change the status of physical therapy management, its transition to EMR, and its effect on patients’ security of information.

Physical therapy management healthcare reform has been a long time coming and President Obama’s initiatives represent a beginning with enormous possibilities.

At the core of healthcare reform is providing access to quality health care services to all in an affordable cost.

Health information technology for physical therapy management is essential in achieving that goal, but to realize its full potential, it’s important to understand the patient healthcare system in the U.S.

Healthcare costs and physical therapy management in the U.S. exceed those in many other countries, yet the quality of patient care can vary widely among providers and regions of the country.

President Obama has a goal of utilizing electronic medical records (EMR) by 2014, a move that can radically improve patient care across the board.

The Healthcare System

The healthcare system in the U.S. can be slow, ponderous and delay essential treatment due to a lack of patient records or availability of insurance. Coordination of care is one of the largest problems facing any healthcare provider and efficient physical therapy management depends on accurate records from all available sources.

Partial records and lost documents result in redundant testing and expensive procedures, when funds could be better utilized to treat patients.

Healthcare in the U.S. is a multi-tiered system administered by a variety of physical therapy management providers, facilities and reimbursement plans. It’s a reactive system that focuses on treating illness, ailments and conditions after they occur, rather than emphasizing ways to avoid problems before they happen.

Effective patient treatment and physical therapy management are built through ongoing relationships, but continuity of care is often broken when a client loses their insurance.

The EMR Technology

Information technology of physical therapy management, such as EMRs, provide physical therapists with a complete, integrated record for each patient that will significantly reduce costs on all levels by eliminating redundant tests, therapies and treatments.

The implementation of health care technology and effective physical therapy management are essential for better patient care and to meet the healthcare demands of a growing population.

Physical therapy clinics must remain profitable, but many patients seeking physical therapy management and services are those insured through Medicare, Medicaid and similar programs that dictate unrealistic reimbursement limits and caps.

Health information technology that includes electronic medical record systems allows therapists to offer an enhanced level of patient care and verify insurance coverage to expedite the treatment process.

Protection of Patients

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The law provides for increased access to healthcare services to many who had none before. It further seeks to limit expenses for consumers and move to a system of electronic medical records that offers extensive advantages for physical therapy management services.

EMRs represent the first generation of electronic records to manage patient health care more efficiently and assist in meeting the government’s goals of expanded access and overall savings within the healthcare industry.

For physical therapists, health information technology provides greater profitability through electronic billing submissions. Therapists have access to complete patient records, eliminating the need for costly physical therapy management and redundant testing that can delay critical treatments, while facilitating change in the patient healthcare system.

Physical Therapy EMR Tips to Smoothen Implementation

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Dec 1, 2018 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Management

Nitin Chhoda provides a guideline that can be used when making the decision about physical therapy EMR. These tips are important, and if executed correctly, will positively affect the efficiency and productivity of your staff.

Physical therapy EMR systems transition are often interpreted as an uphill battle by clinicians and managers.

Gaining traction with all staff members and ensuring that the product is actually more efficient will be a big challenge at first.

Here are a few tips to help implementation of physical therapy electronic medical records go more smoothly.

Assign a Project Manager or Team Leader

Usually this job is given to the office manager or other administrative executive. No matter who does the job, it is critical that someone is responsible for pulling everything together. They will be responsible for figuring out which physical therapy EMR software is best for your practice and they will need to get buy-in from the entire staff.

They will set up a schedule for implementation and manage expectations so that nobody feels surprised or overwhelmed by the changes. They will also need to assess and inventory your current resources and decide what needs to be purchased.

Include Everyone

Having a point person is very important to implementing your physical therapy EMR. And one of the most important jobs that this staff member will do is manage the expectations of the rest of the staff. One of the hardest parts of transitioning to physical therapy EMR and software is that staff members are set in their ways and do not want to change.

Staff member buy-in should be prioritized by adding meetings or interviews to the schedule and plan. Each staff member’s job should be reviewed, to some degree, and the changes they will need to make should be determined and discussed beforehand.

Asking staff what would make their jobs easier and attempting to find the right physical therapy EMR that incorporates the needed improvements can make the process simpler and smoother.

Invest in Training Programs

Another thing that staff will find difficult is learning on the fly. If you are changing the way things work, you’d better train the staff beforehand. Physical therapy EMR should improve efficiency. While there will always be a bit of a lag at first, the more training given before implementation, the smoother the implementation will go.

Physical Therapy Specific Software

There are a lot of physical therapy EMR systems out there. Many are general and can be adapted to any kind of practice, from a general practitioner to a chiropractor or even a dentist.

But rather than worry about making a system fit your practice, find a system that is made for physical therapy documentation.

Physical therapy EMR and software will make billing, scheduling, and patient management more efficient. If you are just starting out and are looking for an EMR that will be easier to implement, find specific physical therapy EMR software.

Be Flexible

Make a schedule, ensure that the staff are ready, and transition your practice to physical therapy EMR software. But remember that there are always going to be challenges and the adjustment period will never be perfect. Build some flexibility into your schedule and ensure that staff have opportunities to refresh any learning even once the EMR has been implemented.