Who here loves chasing down compliant physician documentation? That is one of two issues that come up repeatedly when talking about frustrating parts of running an O&P practice. Read on the find the other and what you can do about it.

We all do it. Friendly banter, weekend stories, emerging relationships and other topics can be the subject of many “watercooler’ discussions. There can even be factual information shared with coworkers or patients. Casual conversations happen all the time. Is this harmless chitchat or gossip? Is there a difference and does it matter?

I am old enough to remember when the internet wasn’t. I can spin all kinds of tales about life before the internet and cell phones and things. Now, the pervasiveness of the internet is extreme. Basic daily activities are now intricately tied to the ‘net. But the threats that come along with that fact are often hard to internalize, so we take certain things for granted. The hackers are out there, and they are looking for low-hanging fruit. How close are you to the ground?

The French have the Académie Française that started in the early 1600’s to ensure that the French language had "exact rules" to keep communication unambiguous. We have no such thing here. Our language morphs. In September 2022, Websters added 370 new words to its dictionary. The study of words and their meaning is known as "lexicography," and they are quick to point out that the meanings of words are constantly changing.

There is a lot we need to focus on as we run a business and attracting new patients (customers) is certainly key. Everyone knows that if we have no customers, we have no business. But a new customer and a retained customer are not the same thing.

Running your practice is very much like managing a patient. In patient care, you start at a certain point on a continuum of mobility and then you move that patient to a higher level of mobility (hopefully). The way you know you have done it is through your objective measures, whether they are focused on balance, range of motion, locomotion, ability to perform functions, etc. You all know when your change has had the desired impact on your patient. So why would you want to manage a practice that cares for many patients with any less scientific rigor?

Over the weekend, I was talking with a friend who is getting a certification in counseling. He had just finished an exam and we were talking about the class. He said the teacher had made a comment one day in class about the importance of making a connection with the client so that you can help them. Her phase was "Are you meeting the person where they are, or are you starting where the person is?" I cocked my head to the side and raised my ears like a dog and said “Huh?”

As much time as I spend reading, writing and trying to practice what I preach, an interview with former University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow a few weeks ago put a point on things for me. He said something to the effect that success alone is unfulfilling. You need to move from success to significance. That piqued my interest…what’s the difference?