In each issue on this page, we report on research from or relevant to the emerging urgent care marketplace. This month, we begin delving into a report whose top-line data made headlines around the country recently. The article, Many Emergency Department Visits Could Be Managed at Urgent Care Centers and Retail Clinics,1 went beyond the conclusion stated in its title, offering a snapshot of how patients exercise their freedom to choose among those three settings. …
Read MoreUsing the New Media: A Modern Plan
Adaptability is defined as the ability “to adjust to new conditions or a different environment.” It is a word that should be ingrained in the mindset of any sales-minded urgent care clinic. I believe that lack of adaptability is the primary cause of less than stellar sales and marketing initiatives. In a business world that is changing daily, yesterday’s approach is, well, so yesterday. You need to adapt quickly to our rapidly changing environment. Right …
Read MoreManagement v. Leadership, 558 U.S. 461 (2010)
JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to be admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, which simply means that I could conceivably argue cases in front of the Court. After being sworn in by Chief Justice Roberts, our group of newly admitted attorneys was privileged to have front-row seats to hear two landmark cases, the second of which I will share with you in detail. The …
Read MoreDeveloping Data: December, 2010
In each issue on this page, we report on research from or relevant to the emerging urgent care marketplace. This month, we offer another look at data from the most recent annual survey conducted by UCA. (In early 2008, UCA revamped its annual survey in conjunction with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, with the goal of assuring that the UCA Benchmarking Committee’s efforts produced a scientifically valid report.) In this issue: What …
Read MoreCoding for Complicated or Multiple I&Ds, Head CT, and Follow-ups— and When to Use CPT 99051
DAVID STERN, MD (Practice Velocity) Q. I notice that the code for complicated or multiple incision and drainage (I&D) procedures almost twice the reimbursement as the superficial I&D code. When can I code the code 10061 (Incision and drainage of abscess, e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia; complicated or multiple)? Anonymous A. The concept of multiple (i.e., more than one) is straightforward. The concept of complicated I&D is less …
Read MoreDisciplined Time Management Drives Your 2011 Marketing Plan
Discipline on the “sales side” involves two significant issues: time management and playing the numbers game. Time management is the essence of effective sales. It’s mathematical: carve out 20% more time for sales and your numbers go up by 20% or more. Monitor your time allocation through the maintenance of honest weekly time sheets. Do not drift away from this commitment; keep your timesheets going through both good times and bad, look for shortfalls on …
Read MorePreventing the “Delta Uniform,” or, Malpractice Reduction in the Urgent Care Center
John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP A few years ago, I flew over to San Diego to watch the Red Bull Air Races. A friend of mine who is pilot occupied the right seat and another friend (also a pilot) was in the back of the plane seated with another friend. As we got closer to San Diego, I noticed that a thick inversion layer (dense fog) blanketed the coast. The lack of visibility required …
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Bridging the Management Divide: Understanding Physician Leadership
Urgent message: Physicians are trained for clinical care; administrators are trained for business management. These differences can create conflict regarding how healthcare is (and should be) managed. So what happens when the physician is the administrator? Trevor Rohm, MD, MS Introduction There is a philosophical division between physicians and healthcare management/administration. There are a variety of causes for this great divide, but understanding how physicians think, act, listen, and learn can provide invaluable insight into …
Read MoreDeveloping Data: November, 2010
In each issue on this page, we report on research from or relevant to the emerging urgent care marketplace. This month, we offer another look at data from the recent annual survey conducted by UCA. (In early 2008, UCA revamped its annual survey in conjunction with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, with the goal of assuming that the UCA Benchmarking Committee’s efforts produced a scientifically valid report.) In this issue: What time …
Read MoreTime Management Skills and the Occupational Health Professional
“Time is money!” So true—and even more so when your raison d’être is to boost gross revenue in the shortest possible amount of time. Ironically, despite the pressure to produce, time management tends to be a virtually lost art in the world of occupational health sales—whether you are a sales professional or an urgent care clinician or office manager tasked with this crucial responsibility.
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