How To Keep Your Clinic Viable During the Coronavirus Quarantine
We are living in unprecedented times. The current state of the coronavirus quarantine is uncharted territory for the entire nation. There is so much information coming at us that seems to change every hour, and it’s leaving many people unsure how to move forward.
The health and safety of your loved ones are of the utmost importance. But after that, the priority for most of us is our livelihood. This time can be especially trying for small businesses and can feel downright unsustainable for those running small clinics.
Despite the confusion surrounding us, there are still many things you can do to keep your practice moving forward. The team at Doug Fir Billing is here to help wherever possible.
You Can Do This
There are silver linings to be found during the coronavirus quarantine. It’s a great time to hang out with your family as you make this situation work together. It’s something that can forge an unforgettable memory for you and your loved ones.
You can apply that same mentality to your small clinic and your patient care during this time. We are all in this together. We just can’t be together. But there are tangible things that you can do to keep your small clinic running.
The most important thing to offer right now is grace and kindness. Being a stable and reliable source of gentleness for your patients will bring them a sense of calm and healing, even if you can’t see them in person.
So, in this new world of social distancing, how do you keep a small clinic running? The good news is that there are many steps you can take. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, each practice can see what works for them.
It’s an Online World Now More Than Ever
With social distancing being the name of the game for the foreseeable future, online options are your new best friend.
Telehealth
Telehealth services have been lurking in the background of the medical and wellness industries for years. But now they are suddenly front and center. So what is telehealth, and how can you use it to keep your small clinic running during the COVID-19 quarantine?
Telehealth is a general term that refers to online interactions with a health professional. Some people also use the term telemedicine to describe these virtual visits.
When used correctly, a telehealth appointment can be very effective for the patient and the practitioner. And with quarantines in place and medical facilities running at full capacity, virtual appointments are becoming the new normal.
There are many tools out there that you can use to start offering telehealth sessions to your patients and clients. From Google to Zoom, you have a range of options.
When it comes to the business end of a telehealth appointment, your thoughts may turn to medical billing. You are still providing services, and you should get paid.
The good news is that many insurance companies and plans now provide coverage for telemedicine services. Most require a modifier before submitting for payment, so it may be helpful to take a look at this overview of the process.
Communication
Right now, communication is critical. Your patients are desperate for accurate information and to feel like they are in the loop. This piece is especially vital for practices that are exclusively hands-on. Acupuncturists and chiropractors, for example, may need to close their doors during the emergency.
Stay present in your clients’ minds by reaching out regularly in whatever way works best for you. Email, Facebook Live, and old-fashioned phone calls all work to check in with your clients.
They want to feel heard, and you want to stay connected. Keeping this communication open will ensure that as soon as the crisis subsides, your patients will be right back in your office.
If you do not yet have an email list, now is the perfect time to build one and start using it. It doesn’t have to be fancy or follow certain marketing expectations. Just be authentic and caring and use it to stay in touch. You can send useful videos, helpful tips, or just some encouraging words. It all matters.
Some other great options for communicating during this time are podcasts and webinars. Many of the telehealth platforms offer services for webinars and meetings. You can educate and inform even when you can’t meet in-person.
Build Your Content
Remember all those website to-do’s that you’ve been meaning to get to? If you have time on your hands now, use it to pump up your online presence. It may be the most important thing you do to keep your small clinic up and running through this crisis.
Now that the physical, in-person things are on pause, it’s time to focus on your practice’s online health. Here are some things you can work on now that will pay enormous dividends later.
Blogs - You know your website needs them, but you never have the time to write them. Now you do. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to a professional content marketing writer. Blogs are powerful pieces of digital real estate, and they are worth your time.
Social Media Posts - These marketing pieces can feel time-consuming and overwhelming if you have to think of them each day or even every week. Now is a great time to sit down and plan a month’s worth of posts. One hour of work on this will save you many hours of annoyance and overwhelm later on.
Video Content - We’ve all heard the quote that “content is king.” Now it’s becoming evident that video content is king. It is becoming increasingly important to have videos on your website. Explainer videos are excellent investments that provide tremendous value to your business.
Any new content you put on your site adds value to your patients. You are an expert, and the positive, pragmatic information you can share is valuable. Utilize the time you have available to make your clinic’s online presence work well for you.
Moving Forward Together
Although we can’t all be together in person, we still have a strong need for interaction and communication. At Doug Fir Billing, we encourage you to make use of the online tools available so that your small clinic can not only survive, but also thrive.
If we can be of service, please reach out. Our staff is working to answer questions and help hard-working providers during this time of need.