THe way we changed to doing it since last january is that we collect up front. You collect for a new patient visit or a follow up visit plus the braces/injections/xrays we would be doing right then and there. if they don't like it,they find care elsewhere..my AR is now very very very good
and i am not chasing money!
With all due respect to those in other specialties, dealing with patients with sprained knees is much different than dealing with patients with periorbital cellulitis. Or orbital. First, you certainly cannot deny a patient care for what they owe. If a patient is in for f/u of a shoulder and is told he or she must come back, no biggie. You simply CANNOT look a parent in the eye and tell them unless they pay for the full visit, they must reschedule. You just can't. You can write it down, have your biller call or write them and send them to collections, but once they are in your door, you are playing with fire. And, with the child's health.
