Questions: The OM Clinic Model
Who should be involved in determining the revision of the model for services?
What are the factors that drive the model changes you determine for the occ med program?
What is the process for adding services to the model?
How do you determine costs?
What drives the billing structure?
What impact does the State Practice Act have on the model?
What client input is necessary for a successful model re-evaluation?
April 20th Clinic Models Dos and Don’ts M a Ehrlich, M Schmidt, Dr. Earl– slides
Audio:
Navigating The Pandemic-Infused Budgeting Process in Occupational Medicine
By Donnelly Gardner
In the past year, budgets across various industries have been significantly impacted due to the ongoing COVID pandemic. Specifically, the field of Occupational Medicine has experienced various unique financial changes, pushing professionals to revisit their budgeting process. This was the focus on the 15th NAOHP Town Hall of 2021, held on the 13th of April.
Panellists
Participating in the discussion was Tim Ross, the Administrative Director for Retail Services North at Franciscan Alliance Incorporated, Mike Schmitz, President of the NAOHP Board of Directors, and Director of Business Development at the Riverview Surgical Center, and myself.
Defining Budgeting Steps
We enlightened participants by shedding light on three crucial steps for budgeting as follows:
- Track expenses appropriately A clear understanding of where your business’s money is going is the first step in the budgeting process.
- Use benchmarks to create your budget Benchmarks give you a contextual starting point to structure your budget, providing an understanding of how realistic your budget is compared to others.
- Regularly compare your practice’s actual finances with your budget Regular reviews of your financial status against budget expectations can help mitigate potential losses and lead to better financial planning. Aim for monthly budget reviews, though quarterly might be a more feasible schedule for some.
Taking a Closer Look
We discussed important aspects of budgeting, especially within the context of the ongoing pandemic. The importance of an in-depth understanding of your expenses, a realistic outlook towards growth and revenue, and the crucial role of competition in influencing your budget was highlighted.
A prominent component of the discussion was the importance of communication and partnership with companies and employers. Pandemic or not, it’s imperative to adapt to the changing needs of your clients and grow with them. The pandemic has opened up new services like ergonomic evaluations, environmental evaluations, and most recently, onsite COVID vaccines for employees.
Surveying Impacts
Lastly, we looked at the impact COVID has had on budget preparation. We recommend taking an average of the past few years’ budgets and evaluating based on realistic growth measures and pandemic impacts to plan out the budget for the upcoming years.
Key Takeaways
Approach the upcoming budgeting cycle with a realistic outlook. Be prepared to dedicate more time to this process, given the irregularities brought about by the COVID pandemic. Drilling down to each business aspect is crucial to evaluating your revenue expectations and understanding your supply and expense costs.
Communication is key — maintain open channels, ask questions, and foster an understanding relationship with your clients and stakeholders. As we all navigate these uncertain waters, being empathetic to each other’s financial struggles and maintaining transparency in operations is the road to mutual growth.
Remember, the money you make is dependent on having client companies that are also making money.
Occupational Health has a unique role to play in the current economic climate, and as we adapt to the situation, we must make these changes while understanding and emphasizing our value in the market.
References:
Additional Services
Here are some of the other methods we discussed in this session to help define your market opportunity and services – market analyzer, surveys, and telemarketing:
Occupational Medicine Assessment. – this is a full onsite assessment, we can also help with any of the components
Clinic Operations & Care Mapping
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Scheduling 2
Flow Process for Injury Management 3
Flow Process for Employer Services 4
Pre-Placement Examinations 5
Administrative Clinical Reports 6
Non-Work Related Illness/Injury 7
Functional Recovery and Return to Work 8
Administrative Protocols 10
Physician’s First Report of Injury 11
Report of Worker’s Compensation Injury Treatment 12 Disability Reports 13
Prevention, Instruction and Supervision 19
Occupational Health Case Tracking 22
Treatment of the Injured Worker 28
Sample of Care Maps 30
Employer Service Flow Chart 31
Injury Management Flow Chart 32
Follow-Up Visit Flow Chart 33
Hazmat, Interim, Periodic 34
Initial Injury Flow Chart 35
Dot Physical Examination Flow Chart 36
Drug Screen Flow Chart 37
CLICK HERE or Image to order – Member 50% discount already applied
Thanks to Our Premier Sponsor for Town Hall – UL.
UL’s SYSTOC Kiosk, automatic appointment reminders and no show notifications to the employer, help streamline the front desk workflow.
Download here: SYSTOC Kiosk for occupational medicine
