December 2013      
To All of our Clients and Friends of SMB Medical Billing, 

It has been an interesting year, to say the least.  I am sure you are all tired of hearing about EMR, EHR, ICD-10, Meaningful Use, PQRS, sequestration, Obamacare and the list goes on and on...

 

So, I am not going to dwell on any of that.  We are just here to assure you that we are working hard to be ready for anything that comes along so that you can rest easy and enjoy the holiday season! 

 

We are thankful for each one of you; the established, as well as the brand new relationships that have formed here at SMB Medical Billing. 

 

Our promise to you is that we will be ready as important deadlines hit.  The wheels are constantly churning here as we are reading, testing, talking and implementing things to help your Practice succeed!

 

Let us all take time to enjoy our family and friends, while looking ahead to a prosperous 2014 as we move forward together. 

 

Thank you again for the privilege of serving you...

 

 

7 Marketing Tips

 

Chad Bixler Business Development

As 2013 comes to a close, it is a good time to look forward to 2014 and put in place a smart, strategic marketing plan.  Your plan will be an integral tool for your practice to rise above the competition and attract a desirable patient base.

 

Below we will emphasize 7 ways to market your podiatry practice.

 

1)     HIGHLIGHT YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE OR PERSONAL INTEREST

 As a podiatrist, you could highlight diabetic care or runner's foot problems.  Both areas attract a certain demographic.  You can highlight your interest on your social media page and website.

 

2)      ATTRACT PATIENTS YOU WANT

As a podiatrist, you may prefer working with a particular insurance company.  You can attract individuals in this insurance plan by sending out direct mail pieces to your desired demographics and highlight the insurance plans you accept.

 

3)     ANNOUNCE NEW PODIATRISTS AND UNIQUE SERVICES

When any new additions to your practice  occurs, write a short press release to put up on your social media sites and send to your local newspaper. 

 

4)      ESTABLISH & MAINTAIN YOUR BRAND

Being consistent with your logo and website is key in building brand recognition.  You can easily get nice, affordable graphics to use on your logo and website at istock.com.  

 

5)     BUILD RELATIONS WITH OTHER DOCTORS

Referrals are always a great way to get new clients, but under Affordable Care Act's rewarding team-based care program, it is even more crucial.  You can establish and maintain relationships through medical associations and professional organizations in your area.

 

6)      BUILD BETTER PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Even in today's digital age, word of mouth is still the best form of marketing.  You can easily and cost efficiently freshen up your patients experience by a new paint coat, offering complimentary water bottles and free Wi-Fi.

 

7)      RECOGNIZE PRACTICE DEFICIENCY

Before you lose patients, figure out how you can change your practice to better suit their needs.  Conducting short surveys and allowing for feedback will help correct situations.

 

We hope these tips will help you grow your practice and attract your desired patients.  Please let me know if you have any questions at chad@pendoprocessing.com or 888-875-5503.  Thank you for your business in 2013 and we look forward to growing together in 2014.  I hope you have a safe and fun holiday season. 

From all of us here at SMB, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to working with you in 2014.
 
Sincerely,
 
SMB Medical Billing
 
In This Issue
7 Marketing Tips
Empolyee Spotlight
2014 Certification
 
Employee Spotlight:
Cheryl Sands

About My Family And Me
I have been married for 23 years and have two beautiful daughters, ages 20 and 18.  A perfect day for me is hanging out at the beach with my family on vacation in Florida.  I also enjoy a good latte, shopping, reading and a good romantic comedy.  I am most happy when surrounded by family and friends.
 
I have been with SMB Medical Billing since the day it began in 2001.  My brother-in-law, Glen, and I started the company because we saw a need for doctors to have their billing handled in a way that lets them offload the headaches so they could concentrate on patient care.  We strive to be the #1 billing.
 
Fun(ny) Facts
* I love Barry Manilow and have seen him in concert twice.  I am ready to go again anytime.

*I am very "spur of the moment".  I can be ready to hop a plane immediately to anywhere tropical, just give me time to pack. (Or better yet, I can just buy it when I get there!)

My Goals To Help Your Practice
*I want to help you reach your maximum reimbursement potential as well as show you how to streamline your billing process.

*I love all the steps of welcoming you to the "SMB Family", from the initial introduction call to the long mutually profitable business relationship that forms over the years.  Watching your business thrive is very rewarding to me.
Important Information Regarding 2014 Certification

Tammy Coetzee
Tammy Coetzee, VP of Corporate Communications/Technology

 

 

Recently in the news, there has been a lot of discussion about vendors not being ready to be certified for the 2014 EHR technology standards.  We wanted to let you know that SMB has taken the necessary steps to prepare for the 2014 certification.

 

SMB's  EHR system, SimplyEHR, has a targeted date of March/April 2014 to become certified under the 2014 EHR technology standards.  What

this means to your practice is, pending final approval, SimplyEHR will be certified to the 2014 standards which will allow you (user of SimplyEHR) to meet both Stage 1 and Stage 2 meaningful use requirements. 

 

 

As a valued client of SMB, we want you to feel confident moving towards Stage 2 Meaningful Use testing.   SMB is working hard to help you meet your requirements for Stage 2 Meaningful Use in order to receive your maximum incentive money. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Coetzee at t_coetzee@smbmedicalbilling.com.  Please click here to learn more about the Stage 2 meaningful use requirements.

 

 

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