You forfeit the right to complain unless you’re prepared to be part of the solution!
Can you imagine a business where the customer sets the price for what they’re going to pay for the goods or services?
You could say well the ‘market’ will determine the price and therefore, the customer is determining the price in reality, but I think you know what I mean… I hope you know what I mean.
I’m intrigued when insurance bodies or government departments set the fees that they are prepared to pay for physiotherapy services. Then the clinic begins treating those patients and one could assume that they therefore accept the terms and conditions that are offered, and then start to complain about it.
That doesn’t make sense.
If you’re not happy with what was being offered you probably shouldn’t have engaged with it in the first place.
I like the idea that the business owner, who understands the costs of running the business and what the return on investment should be, sets the fees in terms of the cost of the service to the consumer, with some regard to ‘market’ forces.
That’s when you end up with a sustainable practice.
That’s when everyone’s happy.
Although I don’t own a group of clinics anymore, if I was starting out again, I would certainly only treat private patients in my new venture.Every patient would pay the same, and every patient would receive the highest quality care that I could provide.
A novel idea I know, but one that’s worth contemplating.
There’s an old saying that “you forfeit the right to complain unless you’re prepared to be part of the solution”.
So, if you’re seeing patients within your clinic, which are being paid for by a third-party insurance body or a government department, and you are not happy with those terms, it’s your choice whether you continue to treat them or not.
Advocacy from our professional association is ongoing and extremely important but so is the action from ourselves.
Time to ponder!
What will you do?
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries or if you would like to discuss ideas further either via my mobile (0439347339) or email (antony@antonyhirstconsulting.com.au).
Kind Regards,
Antony Hirst