Dr. Neuhoff said, "If you believe you are
providing the best care, and your patients trust
you, they will find a way to pay." In that
single sentence she has said it all. In my
opinion, too many of our practitioners seem to
devalue their services. Trimming toe nails on a
patient who cannot reach is NOT a minor
procedure.
Relieving pain with a strapping that only you
know how to apply well is, again, NOT a minor
procedure. Too many of us seem to feel
embarrassed to charge what it is worth (notice I
said what it is worth not what some actuary in
an insurance company says it is worth) by taking
into account your years of education, your
office overhead, your staff (who always seem to
want and need a raise or a new benefit) and etc.
I am reminded of a story that happened to me
years ago. I walked out of a surgery at the same
time the general surgeon walked out of his. In
the hallway between OR's we both lit our
cigarettes (did I mention this was some time ago
and I have quit since then) and I was grousing
that I had to go from being a surgeon up to the
medical floor to trim toenails...quite a letdown
for a hot shot foot surgeon. He mentioned he
had to go up to the same floor and do a
prostate exam (he phrased it somewhat more
colorfully). The point is, he said how much he
disliked that exam, but it was valuable. As is
trimming toe nails. He made me realize that if I
can perform a service few provided, and I do it
well...it is valuable and worthy of
reimbursement by either insurance or private pay.
When you know you are performing a valuable
service to a patient, be it trimming a nail or
reconstructing a foot, then it shows how you
feel and patients are willing to find a way to
pay for it. When you feel embarrassed about
charging for trimming a nail, etc., that also
shows and the patient feels if you're
embarrassed to charge, why, of course, it must
not be worth it. Worse yet is being so
embarrassed to charge the value of the service
that you cheat and manage to get it covered, or
perform it for free.
Believe you are providing the best care
(otherwise don't provide it at all) and show
that you believe, price it fairly, and they will
pay. For those who truly can't, you can make
hardship exceptions.
David E. Gurvis, DPM, Avon IN, deg1@comcast.net
