Tag Archives: Business

The most common lies dentists tell themselves – DentistryIQ

15 Jun

The most common lies dentists tell themselves – DentistryIQ.

This is a good article, and I recommend that all my dental clients and friends read it and take it to heart.  There is one lie that dentists often tell themselves that I would like to add to the list:

PATIENTS WILL PAY THEIR BILL EVENTUALLY AS LONG AS I DON’T MAKE  THEM MAD BY ASKING FOR IT TOO AGGRESSIVELY

This is just not true.  Patients who owe you money may be waiting to see how serious you are about collecting the money, or they may not be planning to pay you at all.

Systematic, regular follow-up early in the process (not just a monthly statement) is required for those who either forget to pay or are too disorganized to get your bill paid on time.

Third party impact is necessary for those who don’t believe that you are serious about collecting their money.

Professional collectors are necessary for those few who are “professional debtors.”

Even if you could do some of this in-office, it is not time-effective or cost-effective.  I would like to show you a way to accomplish all of this less expensively than the way you are doing it now, and giving your staff time to do things that actually grow the practice.

Request a brief consultation, via phone, using the form below.  Quite lying to yourself!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Dental Collections Made Easy (and Inexpensive!!)

4 Jun

Dental-Infographic-green2013

 

Would you like to recover more and pay less? Dental Collections does not have to be difficult.  Dental Collect integrates seamlessly with your practice management system (PMS), and helps dental practices increase overall cash flow while saving time and maintaining patient diplomacy.

Because of products like Accelerator, Dental Collect and Profit Recovery, the dental industry can have a healthier bottom line and better cash flow, which improves the office accounts receivable.

For a personalized A/R strategy session, by telephone,  for your practice with me, Mr Cash Flow, request it through the form below:

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , ,

Who says the independent practice is dead? 58% of physicians don’t want to sell | Medical Economics

29 May

A new survey of 2,094 physicians who own their own practices found that 58% are not looking to sell. Solo practitioners are the most committed to staying independent. Read the full article below.

Who says the independent practice is dead? 58% of physicians don’t want to sell | Medical Economics.

Independent practices need new tools to help their practices stay profitable and even grow profits during these challenging times. For more information on how they can achieve this, respond to me using the form below and I will be happy to get the information to you right away.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips To Improve Collections (Part 10)

28 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #10 (finally, right?)

REMEMBER THAT NOBODY COLLECTS EVERY ACCOUNT

Even with a carefully designed and implemented plan for follow-up and collections, there are a few accounts that will never be collected.  Save your business/practice time and money by identifying these accounts early in the process.  At the same time, your business/practice will benefit from the improved cash flow from the vast majority of accounts that do pay.

Developing and implementing a sound collections policy and strategy is a vital part of running a successful business or medical/dental practice.  Follow these 10 Tips, and watch your business/practice thrive while retaining a good professional relationship with your customers and patients

If you would like to receive a document with all of the Ten Tips included, please respond to me with your email address and a request for the document, and I will send it out right away.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , ,

Dispelling Collection Myths

25 May

myths-twsystems

 

 

ACA (American Collectors Association) International seeks to dispel commonly held myths about the credit and collections industry. Today more than 30 million consumers have delinquent or defaulted accounts under collection, averaging $1,400 each.

“Repayment of consumer debt is the lifeblood of America’s credit-based system and vitally important to the national and state economies,” ACA International Chief Executive Officer Pat Morris said. “It helps ensure that affordable credit is available, goods and services remain affordable, sustains jobs and supports keeping taxes low.”

As an industry, third-party debt collectors help employ more than 300,000 people, pay nearly $2 billion in federal, state and local taxes, donate $85 million and volunteer 650,000 hours to charitable organizations in local communities. “Whether a small town hospital, business or a city struggling to recover taxpayer owed dollars, organizations large and small rely on the recovery of rightfully owed consumer debt,” Morris said.

Myth 1: Avoiding a Debt Collector Makes the Debt Go Away. Consumers who ask debt collectors to stop contact or choose not to respond to calls or letters often mistakenly believe it means their debt has been eliminated. Avoiding contact will not erase a debt. Instead, consumers should communicate with collectors to discuss the account, verify its accuracy and work on a plan for resolution. If consumers don’t owe the debt, communicating with collectors can help put a stop to calls or letters.

Myth 2: Consumers Don’t Have Rights in the Recovery of Past Due Accounts. The collection of consumer debt is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. Consumers have important rights under a number of federal and state laws. For more information about what to do if contacted by a debt collector please visit http://www.askdoctordebt.org.

Myth 3: All Debt Collectors are Bad. Just as “all consumers” aren’t the same, neither are all debt collectors. Most are committed to professionalism, training and customer service. When it comes to the “bad guys,” we want to put them out of business just as consumers do. ACA International and its members continue to work with state and federal policymakers, regulators, courts and attorneys general to comply with the law and hold accountable those who do not.

Myth 4: It is Boom Time for Debt Collectors. It’s no secret that consumers have struggled financially in the current economy. Despite an increase in defaults and delinquency, the inability of consumers to repay rightfully owed debts trickles down to those charged with their recovery.

© 2012 ACA International. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with the express written permission of ACA International

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips to Improve Collections (Part 9)`

22 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #9

USE A THIRD PARTY EARLIER IN THE PROCESS

Most businesses/practices have trouble keeping up with laws regarding contacting customers/patients regarding their accounts.  Even if they can stay informed enough to ensure their compliance, the additional challenges that the regulations cause means that tactics must change.  In order to collect the accounts, more frequent contacts are necessary (see tip #4).  In a difficult economy, most businesses/practices can not afford to hire the additional staff necessary to effectively and systematically collect before accounts age to oblivion.

Services are available that will accomplish the “in-house” follow up necessary to collect accounts early, while ensuring complete compliance to privacy and collection laws.  These services, like Transworld Systems Accelerator,  can actually save the business/practice the internal expenses of doing their own follow-up at avery reasonable price, and without alienating customers/patients.

By the time an account reaches 60-90 days past due, the customer/patient is sending a message.  They either do not intend to pay, or are waiting to see what the business/practice will do to demonstrate their commitment to getting the account paid.  At that point, a third party can motivate a customer/patient to pay in ways that the business/practice cannot, simply because the demand for payment is coming for someone other than your business/practice.  Avoid paying a percentage to a contingency collection agency, using small claims court or hiring an attorney by using a flat-fee collection service such as Transworld Systems Profit Recovery.  Using Transworld Systems Profit Recovery can save your business/practice both time and money, without having to pay a high percentage of any money collected.

For more information on the suite of services that Transworld Systems has available to make businesses and medical practices more profitable, while maintaining good customer/patient relationships, please contact me through the form below or follow this blog for regular updates.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips To Improve Collections (Part 8)

20 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #8

ENSURE YOU ARE COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS

Collections, both in-house and outsourced, are governed by federal, state, and sometimes local laws and regulations.  In many cases, businesses and medical practices are governed by the same laws as are collection agencies.  Ignorance of the laws and regulations that govern your activity is never an excuse, nor a defense, for breaking them.  For example: Calling to collect on an account at an odd hour or disclosing to a third party that a person owes your business/practice money are just a couple of the collection practices that can cause serious repercussions.  Become familiar with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, HIPAA (for medical and dental practices), and any state and local regulations pertaining to your location, or partner with someone who can help you remain compliant.

For more information on staying compliant in following-up on slow-pay and delinquent accounts, contact me through the form below or follow this blog for regular updates.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips To Improve Collections (Part 7)

16 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #7

ADMIT AND CORRECT ANY MISTAKES ON YOUR PART

Sometimes customers/patients don’t pay your bill because they think your business/practice has made a billing error.  If that is the case, quickly admit it and correct the error.  Generally, customers/patients realize that mistakes happen sometimes in business.  Unfortunately, some customers/patients believe that the owner/president or doctor “doesn’t need the money.”  Denying an obvious error your part only feeds the fire of resentment your customers/patients already feel.

To receive each of these 10 tips by email, please follow this blog by entering your email address on the right side of the page.

 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips To Improve Collections (Part 6)

14 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #6

MAKE SURE YOUR STAFF IS WELL TRAINED

Even “experienced” staff members can sometimes become jaded when dealing with past-due accounts.  This usually happens when the customer/patient has made and broken promises for payment.  Make sure the staff is firm, yet courteous when dealing with them.  Your business’s/practice’s collection staff may benefit from customer service training because, in effect, they must “sell” your customer/patient on the idea that your business/practice expects to be paid.  Make sure that your staff is trained to not only bring the account current, but to also maintain good will.

Contact me if you would like information on training for your staff in customer relations and asking for money.  The consultation is free.

To receive each of these 10 tips by email, please follow this blog by entering your email address on the right side of the page.

 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Tips To Improve Collections (Part 5)

13 May

It’s a problem faced by virtually every business and medical practice – how to deal with customers / patients who pay their bill late, or not at all.  While customers and patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bill.

Accounts not paid promptly can severely impact the cash flow of a business or practice.  A clearly defined and carefully communicated, yet diplomatic payment policy, may help avoid difficult collections situations.

Tip #5

USE YOUR AGING SHEET, NOT YOUR FEELINGS

Many businesses/practices (or some well-meaning people on their staff) have let an account age beyond the point of ever being collected because he or she “felt” the customer would pay eventually, and did not want to offend or alienate the customer/patient.  While there are certainly isolated cases of unusual situations, the truth is that if your business/practice is not being paid, someone else probably is.  So stick with your systematic plan of following-up on slow pay and delinquent accounts.  If it is done systematically and early in the process, it will soon be apparent who intends to really pay and who doesn’t.  Appropriate action can and should be taken once you know where your business/practice stands.

Contact me if you would like information on ways to get this accomplished in your own situation.  The consultation is free.

To receive each of these 10 tips by email, please follow this blog by entering your email address on the right side of the page.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Tags: , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →