Why is the time a physician spends with a patient taken into consideration by the insurance company?

Quite frequently, patients have a tendency or desire to present numerous clinical issues/concerns in a single visit. These additional concerns inevitably lead to scheduling delays. Coupled with the unforeseen delays that are an unavoidable part of regular medical care, this can create an unpleasant wait-time. It is important that patients present only a single MAJOR issue at each visit. This is to ensure that we can provide focused and accurate medical care while making every attempt to stay on time. Presenting several MAJOR issues in a single visit leads to fragmented care that can potentially lead to medical and administrative errors. If you are concerned about many medical issues, we are happy to address them over a series of visits. Take into consideration this analogy; one does not typically see a dentist for a routine check-up, dental cleaning, a root canal, a wisdom tooth extraction, and a referral to an orthodontist in a single visit.

Examples of major issues would include but are not limited to: assessments for chest pain, abdominal pain, headache, depression, referral requests to a specialist, motor vehicle collisions, comprehensive medical examinations (annual physicals), and office procedures. If uncertain, the staff will guide you accordingly.

To appropriately address a MAJOR medical concern, a physician must take a focused history and perform a physical examination. Factor in chart reminders, charting time, chart and lab review, and drafting referral letters, a single complaint may require upwards of 20-30 minutes. Care extends well beyond the time the patient leaves the clinical exam room. On any given day, a physician quite easily spends 2-3 hours completing charts an additional paperwork.

We are sometimes able to accommodate a couple of small requests in a single visit, but please be reasonable with your requests. Please realize that even seemingly trivial requests can generate considerable paper work after hours and this can be overwhelming.

An end-of-visit question often prompts an end-of visit response. These responses are typically brief, uninformative, and offer minimal benefit to the patient. Good medicine isn’t fast, and fast medicine isn’t good. Simple questions are often not simple. End-of-visit referral request require obtaining a sufficient history, chart review, letter preparation, and arranging appropriate work-up. This is a requirement by medical consultants. A single request adds 15 minutes to physician charting time. When many patients make this type of request, this demands hours.

Some patients will request a much longer appointment time in order to provide sufficient time for their multiple complaints. Unfortunately, the health care system is not structured in a way that enables multiple concerns without compromising the financial feasibility of the office and practicing physician. This additionally compromises access for the fellow patient.

Why is it important to verify a patient's insurance coverage before an office visit quizlet?

Which refers to a patient who does not arrive for his or her schedule appointment or call to change the date and time?

What is the most important action to take when changing a patient's appointment time?

When developing an appointment schedule what must be considered?