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Patient Ambiguity

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A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study conducted several years ago revealed convenience was the most common reason patients change primary doctors. More than half of the 1423 patients responding to the survey (53%) were willing to find a new general practitioner that was closer or easier to visit. The same study revealed that recommendations from trusted peers and family members (36%) and positive expectations of service (37%) also ranked high among the stated reasons that a patient was willing to leave one doctor for another.

What is driving patients from your practice?

Ambiguity and Fragmented Relationships

Sustaining continuity of care is essential for geriatric patients and people who suffer chronic illness, but people are less willing to work on maintaining a long-term relationship today if they perceive the quality of service is …show more content…

While reimbursement schedules disincentivize extended patient visits, if doctors want to maintain acceptable per/hour rates, patients want more face-time with their providers.

Disorganized Workflow and Poor Communication

Many practices today are struggling to remain solvent due to new restrictions and reporting demands. Private practice and small-group staff members may assume dual-role positions. Adding to the burden is the fact that more health plans are implementing referral-before-service and precertification requirements. The pressure to do more with less may lead to less efficiency.

Disruptions in workflow may prevent prompt referral to specialists or surgeons and ultimately delayed treatment. Patients expecting service within a reasonable time, are not willing to wait weeks, or months, to see another provider, especially if the delay is due to inefficiency in a centralized referral office.

Billing Errors and Payment

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