Mel writes:
"
Yes, the medical insurance schemes in the USA compel medics to act more like
sausage machine operators - in one end, out the other as quickly as
possible,
as profitably as possible - but something really has to be done about this
overcommercialisation and denigration of the worthy medical profession."
What, how and funded by whom?
Many of us are attempting to educate our patients that such a system is not
effective but that system has enormous funding and "negotiating" power
behind it. As service providers know this "negotiating" power is more like
arm twisting as far as setting of fees goes.
We can sell only x number of hours/day. Overheads might be increasing, fees
are kept relatively static so the only give in the equation is deterioration
of service.
Sadly the medical insurance muscle is starting to play a more prominent role
in the UK.
On the one hand then a National Health Service with GP's spending 10 minutes
or less per patient per visit and on the other the "sausage machine" regime
resulting from medical insurance pressure.
Fortunately for them, a large number of patients still are prepared to pay
for quality time/service/treatment.
The book "Dr Generic will see you now" by Oscar London M.D., W.B.D. makes
interesting reading.
Deon
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 10:28 PM
Subject: How to Win Clients and Sell Therapy
John Spencer:
< Have you ever though of running marketing courses for therapists? >>
***Jokes aside, it used to be one of my jobs at the former university where
I
used to work - besides teaching engineering topics, I lectured and consulted
in professional communication and management! Though a lot of what I wrote
in that letter was somewhat tongue in check, it was based upon what
professionals genuinely are taught in practice (with the exception of the
more dishonest items such as bogus degrees).
Ironically, as I stated in that "winning clients" letter, being successful
in
attracting and keeping clients means paying careful attention to those human
factors which doctors often do not. Some research surveys have indicated
that this is why many chiropractors are far more popular than many
doctors --
they take time to listen, they don't try to spend as little time as possible
with patients, they often sit down when talk to patients, they make the
patient feel important and special, they find out personal non-medical
details about patients, they do not act like they are far superior humans --
in short, they are taught that interpersonal communication is essential to
good therapist-client relations and a better healing ambience.
Yes, the medical insurance schemes in the USA compel medics to act more like
sausage machine operators - in one end, out the other as quickly as
possible,
as profitably as possible - but something really has to be done about this
overcommercialisation and denigration of the worthy medical profession.
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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