I asked you not to tell me that…

If I’ve heard this once, I’ve heard 1000 times from practice owners.It’s invariably around the discussion of increasing the fees charged to patients. The reason I’m often encouraging the owner to put up the fees charged to patients is to cover the increasing ongoing costs of wages, utilities, rent, the cost of living and literally a million other things.

I’m a fan of the television show Get Smart, which probably gives you some indication of my age. I often like saying to owners of allied health practices…..

“Please tell me your staff don’t prevent you from putting your fees up”

When the owner tells me that that’s the case I reply…

“I asked you not to tell me that”

My kids have said that I sometimes exaggerate.

So then I ask the owner, who owns the practice? Whose business is it? Who has considerable amounts of money, time and emotion invested? Who is responsible for the ongoing sustainability of the clinic?

And above all who has access to all of the financial information and an understanding of it to be in a position to make an informed decision about the need to put up fees?

Of course, the answer is the owner.

The owner should make decisions based on the information they have access to, not necessarily the employees.

Sure the employees can be involved in the discussion but ultimately the decision is up to the owner and if staff don’t understand that then I’m probably overestimating their level of intellect.

Of course, you could tell your staff that you’re putting up the fees to help cover the costs of increasing superannuation and their wages and you might get a different response from them…

It’s your business.

It’s your choice.

You control it, it doesn’t control you.

Fees need to go up every year just like everything else in society.

To the best of my knowledge, you’re not running a charitable health service… or are you?

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries or you would like to discuss this further either via my mobile (0439347339) or email (antony@antonyhirstconsulting.com.au).