It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or so they say. It’s the day after Thanksgiving, the food was delicious, but all you could think about was the mountain of claims that you’re still waiting to see payment on. Why can’t we just get the holiday miracle of payment on all of our claims? This time of the year can be extra taxing on practitioners of all kinds. While other people are enjoying the more subdued end of the year, filled with family, friends, celebrations, and festivities, you’re working overtime. We’ve come up with a few tips on getting the best out of this time of year.
- Be honest with yourself.
- Keeping realistic expectations helps you manage yourself and your team through the winter months and gives you the clarity and ability to recognize red flags more quickly and mitigate any risks before they become too big.
- This is just a season.
- While this time of year can become an overwhelming undertaking, we need to remember that it’s just a season. These three months are just a span of your full and successful year. This season can also help us come together, or bring together, the people who’ve made the rest of the year such a great one.
- You can’t plan for every variable.
- You can only plan for what’s in your immediate control. This is obviously not what anyone wants to hear, we know. Planning ahead is a lifesaver in a lot of ways, and no time more so than the holiday season. One thing that we know is a major help with not allowing the festivities to intrude upon your productivity is making a to-do list and sticking to it. Can’t go to that luncheon if at least four items on my to-do list aren’t checked off. Keeping an event calendar with the activities and obligations you’ve committed to is also pivotal. Having the most vital and pressing events and things in your line of sight is so incredibly important, that way you’re entirely apprised of where your attention needs to be directed.
- Sharing is caring.
- Wise saying, but don’t be overly ambitious in giving of yourself. It’s okay to try to cover shifts for fellow providers on holiday trips and seeing an extra patient once or twice a week. Being aware of when you’re about to hit a burnout point is more important. At the end of the holiday season what your family and friends prefer is the presence of their loved one, not the present you got for them thanks to that extra shift or the frilly wrapping you got because you could afford it. Give yourself the space you need to give your full presence and intentions to what you’re working on at the moment.
- “It’s probably just allergies.”
- Okay, but maybe not. It’s crucial to listen to your body during this time since it’s the meeting of the peak of cold and flu season. Seven letters that, when combined, are very frustrating. Keeping yourself active, well-rested, and hydrated is vital. Knowing when you need to check in with yourself and take a moment to do 15 deep breaths and relax your busy mind, will keep you on top of knowing what you and your body really need.
We can also offer you a bridge to less holiday worrying about the payments you’re owed. Whether it be helping your staff stay on top of pending claims, or ensuring that clean claims are submitted to the insurer so that payment is made in a timely fashion, Gables Medical Billing would be happy to lighten your holiday workload.
