Business Savvy Tips for the Osteopathic Family Physician
Good for the patient - good to increase your reimbursement.
By Donald E. Kotoske, DO, FACOFP dist.
In these days of diminished reimbursement, soaring operating costs, and astronomical malpractice premiums, it is no wonder that current physician’s incomes are the lowest they have been in years.
It goes without saying that if we are going to work, we need to be adequately paid for the professional services we render to our patients, and, at all times, we need to be doing those things that truly benefit the health and welfare of our patients.
I can remember some thirty years ago when an office visit was five dollars. I delivered babies for one hundred seventy five dollars, including pre-natal and post-natal care. Obviously times have change, not to mention all the paperwork we do for no reimbursement.
About twenty-five years ago, I met a wise and business-savvy medical equipment salesperson. He outlined to me the tremendous revenues that physicians lose by sending the patient out of the office for diagnostic testing, rather than doing the testing in house that would benefit both the doctor and the patient and at the same time, increase business.
One of my first purchases was a chem profile – electrolyte machine. The tandem purchase was a complete blood count machine that could do a differential. Our lab prospered and we were the first in the are to do glycosylated hemoglobins and H. Pylori studies in the office.
Next to comes was an excellent, used ultrasound machine so we could do abdominal, pelvis, thyroid, soft tissue scans and echo cardiograms. Then came 60 CM colonoscopy, pulmonary function testing, holter monitoring and 24-hour blood pressure studies.
The rest is history; we now do fifty different procedures in our diagnostic and treatment center. Most required tests are done in-house. We do not send much out except cat scans, MRI’s and x-rays.
The patients love our in-house. They are familiar with the personnel doing the testing, this makes them more comfortable, and they don’t have to run all over town to be tested. It’s a win-win combination for the doctor and the patient. It does not take a rocket scientists to do what we do. You too can do it with the proper instruction.
These are some of the procedures done in the diagnostic and treatment center of D.E. Kotoske, DO, FACOFP dist.
Laboratory
Standard Tests:
Chemistry Profile
Electrolytes
C.B.C. with differential
Automated urinalysis
Additional Laboratory Tests:
Glycosylated hemoglobin
H.Pylori
Bone Mineral Density:
For osteoporosis and osteopenia Body Fat Index Studies:
65 percent of our population is obese
Pulmonary Function Testing:
For lung pathology Gynecological Studies:
Complete pelvic studies and Pap smear
Endo metrial biopsy
Fulguration of nabothian cysts Colonoscopy:
60 CM Procedure, not full colonoscopy
Skin Surgery:
Electro Fulguration of skin tumors
Incision and drainage of abscess
Laceration repair
Removal of foreign bodies Ear, Nose and Throat:
Hearing testing
Tympanograms
Glaucoma Testing
Physical Therapy Modalities:
Heat
Traction
Massage
Six of our rooms are equipped with anatamotor machines
Ultrasound
Diathermy
Trigger Point Injections
Arthrocentesis with medical injection into the joins
Dr. Kotoske is a graduate of the Notre Dame School of Business. He is a nationally recognized writer and has performed in over 1000 radio, TV and stage presentations.
