ethics, insurance, and legal

The Solution to the Paralysis of Analysis

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image - taking a leap

Years ago, I wrote on the APHA Blog: Just Can’t Throw the Switch? The Analysis of Paralysis Wow! What a nerve I touched with the point — that sometimes we spend so much time worrying about what might happen if we attempt something big (like starting a new business) that we are too paralyzed to actually take the leap. So let’s take a look at that leap… Yes – it’s a biggie! And while it’s not to be taken lightly, […]

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Document, Document, Document

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documents

From your first contact with a potential client, whether it’s by phone or in person, keep track of what you learn and what you’ve promised. When you get started, you may think, “Why do I need to write down every detail? I can remember what I told him!” But what if the prospective client doesn’t call you back for several weeks? Or what happens the minute you have a second client with similar needs? Even if it’s just an inquiry

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Just Say NO

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image - say no

Especially in the early days of building a new advocacy or care management practice, you might be very tempted to attempt to fulfill any request that comes your way. But smart business owners know when to say NO. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to eek that small word out of our mouths! But there will be as many times it’s important for NO to be your answer as they will be times you can agree. Maybe more. So many advocates,

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Oops!

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Nobody is perfect and you will make mistakes. We all do! You might forget to return a phone call, or you may invoice a client for too much or too little. You might run late, or even fail to appear at an appointment, or you might make a math mistake on a medical bill review … or thousands of other errors, large and small. There are three “must dos” when you learn you’ve messed up in some way, as follows:

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The First Question to Ask a Potential Client

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How exciting! You’ve got a real live potential new client on the phone… you dive right in and begin asking questions, letting them answer, listening carefully, taking copious notes… a good start, right? The potential new client seems very ready to speak with you. He seems to know just how to answer your questions. He seems pretty savvy about what the advocate-patient relationship might look like. What a joy! Or…. is it?

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