Nowadays, consumers are researching companies and products before they do any business with them. They search for information about their product, services, pricing and especially reviews.
A survey by BrightLocal found that 80 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as a friend. Reviews and testimonials play a critical role in a patient’s decision to choose a physician or medical practice. Not only are consumers looking for reviews, but they are also looking to share or spare others from their experience.
According to the Hardware Business Review, positive reviews can boost a practice’s revenue anywhere from 32 percent to 52 percent.
It is important to cultivate and maintain a healthy reputation in order to increase revenue and patient retention rate. Here are six reputation management strategies for your practice that will set you up for success:
1. Respond promptly to reviews
Acknowledging your customer’s review as soon as you can it is crucial for your business. According to a ReviewTrackers survey, 53 percent of customer expect businesses to reply their reviews within seven days. And not replying to reviews risks increasing customer agitation by up to 15 percent, according to Chatmeter.
Ideally, you want to reply to respond to your patients within 1-3 hours, especially those who leave negative feedback. About 70 percent of those who leave negative feedback feel better if their comments are addressed.
2. Promote positive reviews
Did you know that consumers with negative experiences are more likely to write a review than those who had a positive experience? This is why it is crucial to ask your patients to share their positive experiences online instead of waiting for them to come in. According to BrightLocal, 68 percent of consumers have left a review for a local business after being asked.
3. Maintain a strong online media presence
It is crucial to keep a strong and healthy online presence. According to Software advice, 82 percent of patients use online reviews to evaluate physicians. Seventy-seven percent of patients use online reviews as their first step for finding a Doctor according to Software Advice. Websites such as HealthGrades, RateMDs and Yelp or CitySearch are some of the first sites that patients go to when researching for doctors, so make sure you leverage positive reviews across multiple rating sites.
4. Watch negative reviews closely
Surprisingly consumers get suspicious of fake reviews if there are no bad scores, and the truth is there are negative comments are inevitable so you have to keep a close eye on them. A survey by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that of consumers who checked online reviews, 35 percent of respondents would select a physician based on positive reviews, while 37 percent avoided doctors with negative reviews.
5. Monitor what patients are saying on social media
Just because they are leaving neither a good or bad review doesn’t mean they are not talking about you. Enlist social media monitoring tools to hunt for mentions of your practice and discover public online content (Anything from blog posts and tweets, to online reviews and facebook updates) and address comments before it’s too late. It is important to find out what your patients are saying on social media so you have a clear idea of what problems need to be fixed on your practice.
Telehealth policy made some significant changes in 2018, and many federal and state policies passed in 2018 took effect on January 1, 2019.
We have gathered all Medicare and State policies to be aware of this new year.
MEDICARE
● Virtual check-ins, remote pre-recorded information, and inter-professional internet consultations will be now reimbursed by Medicare. Keep in mind that these services are not classified as “telehealth” and they are not subject to telehealth restriction that usually applies in Medicare such as limitations on originating sites.
● Medicare will also reimburse Rural Health Clinic (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHCs) for communication-based technology and remote evaluation services that have not been captured in the RHC AIR or FQHC PPS payment, and waiving the face-to-face requirement.
● The originating site geographic requirement will no longer apply for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) services in hospital-based or Critical Access Hospital (CAH) based renal dialysis centers. And renal dialysis facilities and the patient’s home are now eligible for reimbursement for ESRD services.
● The originating geographic requirement will also not apply for diagnosis, , and treatment for acute stroke via telehealth and can take place at any eligible originating site or mobile stroke unit.
● Codes GG0513 and G0514 related to prolonged preventive services are now reimbursable by the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
● New remote physiologic monitoring codes (99453, 99454, and 99457) are now reimbursable, including new code (99491) for chronic care management.
Learn more about these new codes and requirements by referencing the Center For Connected Health Policy (CCHP) factsheet regarding the changes.
STATE POLICIES
States have also made telehealth policy changes. Check the following changes in policy at these states:
● ARIZONA: The private payer law now applies to the specialties of urology, pain medicine and substance abuse.
● ILLINOIS: Reimbursing will begin for certain mental health professionals and clinicians to provide behavioral health services via telehealth. Insurers will also be required to provide coverage for telehealth services by licensed dietitian nutritionists and certified diabetes educators who counsel senior diabetes patients in the home.
● KANSAS: Law now prohibits private payers from excluding coverage solely because a service is provided through telemedicine.
● TENNESSEE: Officially joined the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact as a new member state.
● UTAH: Law requires health benefit plans that offer coverage for mental health services to provide coverage for telepsychiatric consultations under certain conditions.
Cleveland, Ohio- PatientClick® EHR (www.PatientClick.com), a leader in innovative medical solutions, just released a pioneering approach to web-based electronic medical service (EMR) delivery designed specifically with physicians and small medical clinics in mind. The PatientClick system gives medical providers instant access to critical patient information at the touch of a button, simultaneously increasing efficiency and ultimately improving patient care.
“Providers are scrambling to comply with President Obama’s HITECH Act, which mandates the transition from paper to electronic medical records by 2015. Until now, making that transition was time-consuming and expensive, with only a ‘one-size-fits-all’ option for medical practitioners,” said Vish Mehta, CEO of privately held PatientClick.com. PatientClick® solves that problem through its innovative online service, which, unlike other EHR systems, is customizable, affordable, and user-friendly for smaller practices. Complying with Federal mandates just became as easy as opening your web browser.
The internet-based PatientClick application is easy to navigate — the software allows for customizable dashboards, integrated patient portal, and multi-provider communication tools on any desktop PC, smartphone, or web enabled tablet device, like the Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy S. Its customizable software also offers comprehensive practice management services – like the ability to write prescriptions electronically and send and receive lab results – and covers more than 30 medical specialties.
“PatientClick® offers a number of advantages over other EHR solutions currently offered,” said Mehta, “and the service allows practitioners to see more patients, and provide more personalized care. As a result, claims are filed faster, meaning faster reimbursements and a better experience for patients.” Physicians using the service are extremely impressed with the results.
“PatientClick®’s EMR software makes daily life quick and efficient,” said a Michigan-based physician who recently purchased a subscription to the service and who has used it extensively. “It is in every aspect superior to its competitors. Right from accessing patient demographics to submitting insurance claims, PatientClick® is a well-structured product and I would certainly recommend to other physicians.”
Mehta said practitioners who subscribe to PatientClick® are eligible to receive federal stimulus cash payments, up to $44,000 for five years, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “This will more than cover the costs associated with subscribing and installing the PatientClick system,” says Mehta.
Test lab and certification service Drummond Group, Inc. has certified PatientClick as meeting all ONC-ATCB ARRA ambulatory industry standards as established by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.
PatientClick® (www.patientclick.com), based in Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in San Diego, Calif., offers innovative online electronic medical service solutions designed and built specifically with physicians and small medical clinics in mind. The service provides 24/7 year-round support, with no costly hardware to install and with a minimal amount of time required to get up and running. PatientClick’s services are scalable, so they can fit a physician’s practice large or small. The specialty-specific EMR software service covers more than 30 medical specialties and can be customized to fit individual needs and workflow of any physician’s office. For more information call 1-877-901-9990
PatientClick® EHR, a leader in innovative web-based medical solutions, now puts the power of medical care and follow-up in the hands of the patient. The PatientClick® total office solution – already renowned for taking EHR to new heights by enhancing practice productivity – now goes one step further by allowing patients to be interactive with their own medical histories. The new, state-of-the-art “Patient Portal” serves as a window for patients to monitor their own health records and interact with their physician(s).
“This feature is unique to the PatientClick® solution and is designed to enhance both end-user experience (patients) as well as work as a tool for doctors to communicate with their clients,” said Vish Mehta, CEO of privately-held PatientClick®. “By allowing patients to have controlled access to their medical records, it not only brings a level of accountability to their own health management issues, but also allows a measure of interactivity with their medical provider. In the end, this feature improves the experience for both the doctor and the patient.”
The internet-based PatientClick® application is easy to navigate — the software allows for customizable dashboards, integrated patient portal, and multi-provider communication tools on any desktop PC, smartphone or web enabled tablet device, like the Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy S. Its customizable software also offers comprehensive practice management solutions. PatientClick EHR offers the ability to write prescriptions electronically and to send and receive lab results – and covers more than 30 medical specialties.
“PatientClick® offers a number of advantages over other EHR solutions currently offered,” said Mehta, “and the service allows practitioners to see more patients, and provide more personalized care. As a result, claims are filed faster, meaning faster reimbursements and a better experience for patients. Physicians using the service are extremely impressed with the results. Patient Portal just takes this service to new heights.”
PatientClick® offers free demonstrations of their revolutionary software. Log on for more information.
About PatientClick® EHR
PatientClick® based in Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in San Diego, Calif., offers innovative online electronic medical service solutions designed and built specifically with physicians and small medical clinics in mind. The service provides 24/7 year-round support, with no costly hardware to install and with a minimal amount of time required to get up and running. PatientClick’s services are scalable, so they can fit a physician’s practice large or small. The specialty-specific EMR software service covers more than 30 medical specialties, and can be customized to fit individual needs and workflow of any physician offices. For more information, call 1-877-901-9990.
Recently launched PatientClick® EHR, a leading provider of web-based electronic solutions for medical practitioners transitioning from paper to electronic medical records – has been Dragon Certified. With the pressure on medical providers to make the switch cost-effectively and with as little disruption as possible, PatientClick® uniquely bridges the gap. In providing a service that stands out from the pack, PatientClick® allows physicians to leverage voice recognition technology to effectively use EHR in their daily routine.
The Dragon Medical EHR Certification Program is a rigorous and stringent process that is designed to seamlessly synchronize medical workflow in EHR.
The software has been specifically designed to be intuitive to use, says Vish Mehta, CEO of PatientClick®. “We designed PatientClick with both the physician and the staff in mind, with a specific emphasis on its easy-to-use technology,” he says.
Key benefits include multiple methods for physicians or clinical staff members to create medical encounter notes through interface with Dragon Medical and Nuance Dragon Medical while meeting their strict interface and compliance requirements.
PatientClick® was launched for physicians worldwide in early June, and offers a defined suite of services for physicians. The software interface features customizable dashboards, integrated patient portals, and multi-provider communication tools.
Concerning ease-of-use, Mehta insists that PatientClick® greatly simplifies and streamlines the efficiency of any medical office. “Medical practices that subscribe to PatientClick will be able to view and access every aspect of a patient’s chart on one screen,” Mehta explains. “This includes medical histories, lab test results, prescriptions, films, insurance, appointments, letters and alerts – saving hours of valuable time.”
For more information, call 877-901-9990
About PatientClick®
PatientClick®, based in Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in San Diego, Calif., offers innovative online electronic medical service solutions designed and built specifically with physicians and small medical clinics in mind. The service provides 24/7 year-round support, with no costly hardware to install and with a minimal amount of time required to get up and running. PatientClick’s services are scalable, so they can fit a physician’s practice large or small. The specialty-specific EMR software service covers more than 30 medical specialties, and can be customized to fit individual needs and workflow of any physician offices. For more information call 1-877-901-9990