I would like to start a discussion relating to proper ways of networking with fellow health and wellness professionals. If you networked with others in the past, please share your story and experience.

The first question would be:

What is the most efficient way to get more customers and more business through networking?

Another question that comes up is:

Should I network with those providers who can bring me customers with health insurance?

Finally, there are legal issues associated with exchanging clients:

Is it okay for me to give my customer's information to other professionals?

I can quickly answer the last question. Privacy laws prohibit re-disclosure of customer information unless permitted in writing. One way to get around this problem is to give your customers a list of providers that you are "networked with". This way the customer will decide on his/her own.

So - based on the above, you'd need to have a "list" of health providers that you talked to and whose information/brochures you have handy to give out to your customers.

The most efficient way to network is, for example, by offering free consultations to customers referred from other health providers. Offering a no-strings-attached visit would get new customers in the door and give you an opportunity to sell your services. Under normal circumstances, this method can lead to tons of "fake leads", but knowing that those people already paid for services from other professionals, you are more likely to get paid for yours provided the customer wants your services.

The issue of reimbursement is important. Due to a high number of uninsured in the US, a chiropractor getting "referrals without insurance" from a massage therapist or a personal trainer "will not do". A quick tip would be to ask your customers for insurance coverage and based on their answer, refer those to your list of "networked professionals".

What are your thoughts on this?

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Health Care Administrator
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305

FIPD - Health Care Cops ( Financing, Insurance, Payment, Delivery )

I can emphasize with your issue on getting more customers through the door. We just recently hired a marketing company to handle all the internet marketing. Each director was asked to come up with a list of key terms to furnish to the contractor. Then, I guess she works to get our key terms into all the search engines. Then, there are listservs, network boards and paid advertising. Do you have a business plan already, because this all becomes part of the business plan. Consulting an attorney would be a good idea in the privacy issue arena. Consider different types of practice, HMOs etc , like what are your options will determine how you share patient information and the types of releases you will need. Also, physicians can get reimbursed for phone consults, but us Registered Dietitians cannot. After you have your business plan done and you have reached the marketing phase of your plan is when you devise your brochure (you have target audience, staffing, type of practice, billing all together and, thus, the info for the handout).

By the way, we still need more networking to increase both our student and author base at our business http: www//ceu4u.com.
We need authors mostly for pediatric and clinical subjects. Of course, we always could use more students to take our CDR approved nutrition courses! My e-mail directly is kshattler@charter.net

P.S. How do you get a new post started on the forum? The new post button is not cooperating with me today.
Kathy

To create a new post you need to first enter a forum. Once you are in the forum, you click on "new post" button. Forum list is on the home page.

This post for example is in the forum "General Health and Wellness Discussion". You should also post a message in your location forum so that search engines can crawl your name under that location...

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Health Care Administrator
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305

FIPD - Health Care Cops ( Financing, Insurance, Payment, Delivery )

As a Registered Dietitian, what percentage of your customers do you get reimbursed for through insurance? Do you have a set of codes just like physicians do or is there extra paperwork involved?

As far as networking - have you tried working with physicians? If yes, how did that work out? What about beriatric surgeons? Stomach surgeries for weight loss are growing fast. I know one dietitian who networked with a beriatric clinic and gets customers referred by them.

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Health Care Administrator
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305

FIPD - Health Care Cops ( Financing, Insurance, Payment, Delivery )

I've done a lot of work in my local community, where my name and the services I offer are noted every where I "present". I'm paid to do work in one area, but I also talk about my other lines of "business". Example: I work for a senior center in their health program, but I always introduce myself, and were I'm located, should they need further assistance: my private practice, etc.

I am a provider of all the large payors in my area: BCBS, Tufts, HPHC and a medicare provider. I am fee for service based practice. I would never give my services away for no payment. I am located in MA, so we now have insurance for all. If a person comes to me with no insurance, I send them to get it!

Would a dietitian also get payments from Blue Cross Blue Shield / HPHC or does the fact that you are Certified Diabetic Educator make you more eligible for reimbursement?

You say that you are fee for service based provider; does insurance reimburse percentage or full amount of your service?

I can see why you would never give your services without any payment, being a personal trainer I also try to lower the number of free consultations. But like you say, in MA you have universal health insurance so that must be good for your business, right?

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Personal Trainer in Miami