Monthly Archives: December 2014
4 Things to Do if You Can’t Get an Appointment With Your Doctor
Imagine waking up with a sore throat, fever, body aches and the inability to get out of bed. You quickly go to your medicine cabinet and take whatever over-the-counter medicine you have, but then what? Most of us would probably think to call our doctor with the expectation that he or she would be able to see us in a timely fashion.
There’s nothing more frustrating than calling your doctor, only to find out that there are no appointments available. Often times, you won’t be able to control when you get a doctor’s appointment, but there are other alternatives to visiting your primary care physician. Here are four tips for what to do if you can’t get an appointment with your doctor:
Convey urgency and be thorough on the phone
When calling to make an appointment, make sure you emphasize the importance of why you’re calling. Be thorough in explaining what the problem is and why you feel that you need an appointment. If you emphasize the severity of your problem, you’ll often be able to get an appointment the same day or the day after. It can also be helpful to write down the history of the illness as well as your symptoms and send it to the doctor’s office by email or fax. When you call, explain that you’ve sent over a summary of your symptoms. Ask the receptionist to show it to a doctor in case they want to see you sooner rather than later.
Get a referral or see a different doctor
If you can’t get an appointment with your regular doctor, ask if you can see another doctor at the office who may have openings in their schedule. You may be able to get an appointment sooner if you’re not picky about the doctor you see. Additionally, you can check to see if your primary care doctor has an established relationship with a specialist. If they do, they may be able to help you get an appointment faster. A referring doctor typically provides more important and detailed medical information, and is better at justifying an earlier appointment. This can be especially helpful if a specialist is better suited for your problem.
Go to urgent care or a walk-in clinic
Anyone that’s visited the emergency room knows just how costly a visit can be. If you don’t have a true medical emergency, you may pay up to six times more than necessary for your visit. On the other hand, if you wait days or even weeks for an appointment, you risk your condition getting worse and requiring more complex treatment.
The next time you can’t get an appointment with your primary care physician or another doctor at the practice, consider visiting urgent care or a walk-in clinic. Urgent care bridges the gap between a situation that’s too urgent to wait for your primary care physician and the life-threatening situation that calls for a trip to the emergency room. These options are often far less expensive than the emergency room, and they can perform the same services in non-life threatening situations. You can also check to see if your doctor’s office has a walk-in clinic. These clinics are operated on a “first come, first served” basis, meaning you don’t need an appointment, but you may have a longer wait time. Both urgent care and walk-in clinics are beneficial for the times when you have an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.
See a telehealth provider
Telehealth providers are increasing in popularity, and they’re a viable alternative to visiting a doctor in person. With a telehealth provider, you have access to U.S. board-certified physicians who can resolve many of your medical issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments are conducted via phone or video chat from wherever you happen to be – home, work or even vacation. The average call back time for a telehealth provider is far less than a wait at your doctor’s office, and telehealth providers cost less than urgent care or ER visits for non-emergency medical care.
If you’re sick, the worst thing you can do is to wait it out and hope you’ll get better on your own. It’s important that you visit with a doctor to find out what’s wrong, but sometimes, visiting with your primary care physician is nearly impossible. Luckily, there are other options such as urgent care, walk-in clinics and telehealth providers.
4 Benefits of Using a Telehealth Provider
Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or telecare, is a rapidly growing area in the world of clinical medicine, and it’s changing how people look at healthcare. Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technology to support long-distance clinical health care, patient education and health administration. Telehealth providers use technologies such as phone calls, video conferencing, streaming media and more.
Over the years, telehealth has been especially beneficial for people living in rural areas who don’t always have access to medical care. Telehealth connects healthcare providers to patients that need their services. This allows patients to receive medical care in their communities while avoiding long travel times. Telehealth plays an important role in ensuring patients in rural areas have access to the health care that they need.
People who live in urban areas are beginning to take advantage of the services telehealth offers, too. However, there are still people who are hesitant to use a telehealth provider in fear that it won’t provide the same service and care as an in-person doctor’s visit. Here are some of the biggest benefits of using a telehealth provider:
The ability to resolve many of your medical issues
Most, if not all, telehealth providers use U.S. board-certified doctors who can resolve most of your medical issues. Telehealth providers can diagnose, recommend treatment and even prescribe medicine. Telehealth providers are ideal for non-emergency situations such as cold and flu symptoms, bronchitis, allergies, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, sinus problems and more. Additionally, if you’re in need of a short term prescription for an of these medical issues, telehealth providers can prescribe them to you and have them sent to your pharmacy of choice.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits to using a telehealth provider is having access to a doctor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – no matter where you are. Whether you’re at home, work or even on vacation, you’ll have access to quality medical care.
Increases access to healthcare
With telehealth, people can more easily obtain specialty services while staying in their local communities. At the same time, telehealth allows healthcare providers to expand their reach and serve a wider range of people.
Reduces healthcare costs
When you can’t get an appointment with your doctor, it’s likely that you’ll turn to urgent care or the emergency room for immediate medical treatment. In turn, you often spend more money than necessary to treat you or your family’s non-emergency medical situation. Telehealth providers often cost far less than urgent care or the emergency room, and you have access to a doctor within minutes as opposed to waiting days for an appointment.
6 Ways to Save Money on Your Doctor’s Visits
If you’re like most Americans, you’re paying more for health care than you’d like. Even with health insurance, healthcare costs can be expensive. Between the doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, co-pays, and premiums, the amount of money you spend on healthcare every year really adds up. Even though you’re legally required to pay your pre-determined co-pays, there are still a ton of ways that you can save money on healthcare. Here are six tips that will help you get the most value for your dollar:
See “In-Network” Providers
Seeing a doctor or healthcare provider outside of your insurance network is more expensive than it is to use a doctor within your network. One of the easiest ways to save money is to stay within your insurance provider’s network. If your doctor refers you to a specialist, check to see if that specialist is in-network. You can check to see if a doctor is in your network by looking on your insurance provider’s website or by calling your insurance company directly.
Find ways to save on prescriptions
If your doctor prescribes a medication, check to see if there’s a generic alternative. Many health insurance plans charge more if you use a name brand drug versus the generic. Not only is the list price lower, but the coinsurance rates are often lower as well. You can also ask to see if there’s something over the counter you can take, such as a vitamin supplement.
Look for no-fee preventative care
You may be afraid to visit the doctor on a regular basis because you’re worried that it will cost too much money. However, one of the best ways to avoid high medical costs is to get regular exams, screenings and immunizations. Most health insurance plans pay for preventative care visits, which can include diabetes and cholesterol tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, flu shots, well-baby and well-child visits, and more. You’ll save money in the long run by catching problems early or by preventing them altogether.
Consider contributing to a flexible spending account
Money in a flexible spending account escapes both federal and Social Security taxes, and in many cases, state and local income taxes too. When you put money into a flexible spending account, you use this tax-free money to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as doctor’s visits and prescriptions throughout the year. This has become more valuable as people face higher deductibles. If you receive health insurance through your employer, check to see whether your plan allows you to set up a flexible spending account. If so, you’ll be able to opt-in for a flexible spending account during open enrollment, and the money you put into your flexible spending account will come out of your pre-taxed income.
Find lower-cost after hours services
The average cost of an emergency room visit is around $1,200.00. If you have an insurance policy with a high deductible, you may pay even more. Visiting urgent care instead of the emergency room can save you hundreds of dollars. A study by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that the average cost of urgent care for three common illnesses – middle ear infection, pharyngitis, and urinary tract infection – was $155. If your primary care physician offers a walk-in clinic, you may be able to visit after hours. Walk-in clinics, if operated by your primary care physician, will usually cost the same as a visit to your physician.
Access a doctor over the phone
If urgent care or a walk-in clinic isn’t available and you need after hours medical service, consider using a telehealth provider, such as Teladoc. When you use a telehealth provider, you have access to U.S. board-certified doctors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Telehealth providers are able to resolve most of your medical issues via phone or online video consultants, and they’re also able to prescribe prescriptions. Additionally, these services cost far less than urgent care or ER visits for non-emergency medical care.
8 Things Debt Collectors Cannot Do
As a business owner, it’s important that you get paid by your clients. Even though money isn’t everything, it’s essential in helping you run your business. But what happens if your clients don’t pay on time? What happens if days, weeks and even months go by and clients still haven’t paid their bills? As a business owner, what do you do next?
Many small business owners in this situation turn to debt collection agencies to help them collect on past due accounts quickly and more efficiently. Using a debt collection agency allows you to focus on your business while a third-party company handles the debt collection process. However, debt collectors often have a negative stigma, and you may avoid hiring one for this exact reason. No one enjoys getting a call from a debt collector, especially if they’re being harassed and are getting calls multiple times a day. Not every debt collector resorts to harassment. It’s essential, for both your customers and your business, that you choose one that follows all of the rules surrounding debt collection. So, how can you make sure that you don’t choose one of those debt collectors?
The first step into choosing a debt collection agency is to understand the laws surrounding debt collection. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates debt collectors and collection agencies, and there are certain things they can and cannot do when collecting debt from a consumer. It’s important that you understand these laws and that you choose a company that is diligent in following them.
Here’s a list of eight things debt collectors cannot do when collecting debt from your customers:
- They cannot call you at odd hours. It is illegal for debt collectors to call you outside of the hours of 8am and 9pm or on official holidays, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. If you get a call from a debt collector at 1am on a weekday, you have the right to ask them to stop calling you outside of reasonable hours.
- They cannot threaten you. Debt collectors are not allowed to make threats. They can’t tell you that you’ll be thrown into jail if you don’t pay or that they’re going to sue you if they don’t actually intend to sue you. Additionally, debt collectors cannot threaten to tell your friends and family about your debt problems.
- They cannot use abusive language. If you are ever on the phone with a debt collector and they begin to swear at you or call you names, you should hang up and immediately write down what happened. You can then send this to the management of the agency or meet with an attorney to determine your legal rights as a consumer.
- They cannot ask you to pay more than you owe. If you owe $1,500 for an unpaid medical bill, a debt collector cannot ask you to pay $2,000 for that bill. Debt collectors are never allowed to misrepresent the amount you owe.
- They cannot tell anyone about your debt. Debt collectors are only allowed to discuss your debt with your spouse and your attorney. They may verify your employment or contact information with a third party, but debt collectors are not allowed to discuss any information about your debt.
- They cannot report false information on your credit report. Debt collectors are allowed to be honest about what you haven’t paid, but they’re not allowed to create false information to further hurt your credit. If a debt collector is contacting you, check your credit report to make sure they’re not making any false claims.
- They can’t lie about who they are. If a debt collector calls you and you ask them who they are, they must tell you who they are calling on behalf of to collect the debt. They cannot pretend that they’re a collection attorney or that they have authority that they don’t actually have.
- They cannot keep calling you if you ask that they stop. If you ask for a debt collector to stop calling you at work, whether through a verbal or written request, they’re legally required to stop. Additionally, you can make a written request asking the debt collector to stop contacting you. This doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook for your debt, it just means that a debt collector is no longer allowed to contact you via phone.
All debt collectors are required to follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If a customer comes to you and says that a debt collector is harassing them, it’s important that you speak to the debt collection agency immediately.
5 Fun and Unique Promotional Products Your Competitor Isn’t Using
Advertising is one of the hardest and most-time consuming activities a business can undertake. It’s also one of the most beneficial. Businesses of all sizes are often hesitant to spend thousands of dollars on an advertising campaign because there’s no guarantee of success. In those situations, businesses find themselves turning to other forms of advertising to help promote their business. Promotional products are one of the best and most cost-effective forms of advertising. When used correctly, promotional products have the ability to increase awareness and bring in new customers.
The only people who love promotional products more than businesses are their customers. People love receiving promotional products, especially when it’s something they’ve never received before. But finding a promotional product that’s different than anything your competitor is using can be difficult. If you’re looking for fun and unique promotional products, here are 5 ideas:
Portable phone charger
If your target audience is made up of Millenials, and even Generation X, portable phone chargers will make a great promotional gift. People in this age range often find themselves in situations where their phone battery is draining quickly and there’s no place to charge their phone. You can use this opportunity to get your brand in front of your audience and give them something they’ll actually use.
Microfiber cleaning cloth
Anyone with a tablet or touchscreen phone knows that your screens get dirty quickly. Microfiber cloths are quickly becoming one of the most useful promotional products. With a wide range of uses, they’re easy for people to carry around and they can be branded with your company’s logo.
Bluetooth shower speaker
Visit a site such as Groupon or Amazon, and you’ll likely see several Bluetooth shower speakers for sale. Bluetooth shower speakers are growing in popularity, but did you know that you can brand them with your logo? They’re a bit more expensive than other promotional products, but they make great gifts for your clients and customers.
Color changing products
Mood items, such as mood rings, have fascinated people for years, and color-changing products are a modern spin on this classic favorite. Color changing cups have all of the benefits of regular cups, but they change colors when liquid is poured into them. Other color-changing products to consider are pens, sports bottles and even pencils. Color-changing items allow you to give away a product that people will love, while putting a fun and exciting twist on it that your competitors probably didn’t think of.
Insulated lunch box
If you’re looking for a promotional product that your customers will actually use, why not buy insulated lunch boxes? If you walk into any office and head straight for the refrigerator, you’ll probably see tons of plastic bags filled with lunches. An insulated lunch box with your company’s logo will give people the opportunity to swap out their plastic bag for a lunch box, and it will mean that your business’ logo will be seen on a daily basis – not only by the person who you give it to, but also by other people in the office.
There are thousands of promotional products available, and finding one that your competitor is easier than it sounds. If you don’t know where to start, spend some time looking through promotional products online. You’ll likely find something that stands out and will make a great impression among your audience. When it comes to promotional products, the possibilities are endless.
Creating an Office Space That Works for Everyone
The technology industry is often at the forefront of office design trends today, but creative industries such as marketing and advertising aren’t far behind. The collaborative, open workspace trend is booming, and all different types of businesses are beginning to adopt this trend. The open office layout increases collaboration and conversation while giving employees the ability to be in an environment that makes them feel relaxed yet productive.
This trend isn’t going anywhere, but it’s important to remember that not all of your employees will benefit from an open environment. If you ask your employees what bothers them about an open office environment, chances are they’ll tell you that they can’t concentrate or focus on their work.
Just because a few employees aren’t fans of the open office concept doesn’t mean that you can’t make it work for everyone. Regardless of whether an employee is introverted or extroverted, you can turn your office space into a place where everyone can be productive. Here are some ways that you can create an office space that works for all of your employees:
Encourage quiet times
If your company has chosen to adopt an open layout, make sure you encourage silence at certain points during the day. Although the open office space can give the impression of a casual, collaborative, go-with-the-flow company, it can actually hurt the productivity of some of your employees. This isn’t to say that it needs to be quiet all the time, but encouraging employees to be quiet when collaboration isn’t needed can be incredibly beneficial for many of your employees.
Offer breakaway spaces
If you’re looking to increase creativity while still encouraging collaboration, create breakaway spaces for your employees who are looking for quieter, less stimulating environments. This is especially beneficial for your more introverted employees as well as employees that spend time doing creative tasks like writing.
Embrace natural light
Productivity and creativity are often dependent on natural light. Find ways to incorporate natural sunlight into the office, such as keeping the blinds open during the day.
Incorporate color
For people who work in marketing, the importance of color is obvious. Even if you’re not a marketer, color should still play an important role in your office space. Color selection is often seen as a subjective choice, but there are certain colors that elicit universal reactions from people.
Countless studies have shown that there are cultural associations with colors that can send us cues about how we should feel. For example, the color blue is associated with water and often signals feelings of calmness. Yellow and orange are often associated with happiness and excitement while purple suggests feelings of dominance and power. Adding color to your office’s walls or furniture can have a positive influence on your employees’ moods.
Creating a space that works for everyone may seem like an impossible task, however the little things you do will make a big difference to your employees. Encouraging quiet times, creating breakaway spaces, embracing natural light and incorporating color into your office area all ways to make your office a better place for your employees.
Top 4 Office Design Trends
[fusion_text]Driven by today’s changing work styles, mobile technology and the ever-growing presence of Millenials, the workplace is changing – mostly for the better. In the past decade, companies have moved away from traditional offices to more open and collaborative workspaces.
In 2010, Baby Boomers made up half of the U.S. workforce. By 2020, they will be outnumbered by Millenials. A study by Forbes predicts that by 2025, three out of every four workers will be Millenials. Millenials are ambitious, tech-savvy and creative, and they have a different working style than any of the previous generations. For example, Millenials may be more productive sitting in a café or lounge area than in a traditional workstation. Their ability to easily adapt to technology enables many of them to work anytime, anywhere. This shift in the workforce has largely contributed to many of the new office design trends.
From integrating the latest technology, to workspaces that increase collaboration among coworkers, the work environment is rapidly changing. Therefore, the way offices are furnished and set up must change as well. Here are some of the biggest office design trends from the past year:
The new workspace is all about collaboration
Gone are the days when workspaces were cramped and secretive. In today’s modern age, it’s less about keeping the world out and more about letting it in. Ceilings are higher, companies are using brighter colors and offices are more spacious. More and more companies are opting for open floor plans where everyone has a desk in the same room rather than each employee having their own office. This allows employees to openly and easily collaborate on projects, and it creates a strong and unique company culture.
Today’s workforce requires a “home base” space
More and more employers are accepting the idea that their employees don’t have to be at their desks in order to be productive. Many employers are allowing their employees to work freely around the office and even in locations outside of the office. Today, employees are less tied to their office space than in the past. But when they are in the office, they need a “home base” spot – a place they can come to in order to be productive and get work done.
Employees are able to personalize their space
Every employee is different. In today’s workplace, it’s important that employees are able to express themselves freely. Family photos, artwork and desk plants are just a few of the things that make a desk feel more like home, and it’s an important part of creating a comfortable environment.
Acoustics are vital
Office acoustics often contribute to performance and well-being in the workplace. When employees have difficult work to finish, they often seek out quiet places in the office. The ability to have a quiet space for employees to work when they don’t want to be in the open environment is essential.
Offices with white noise, also known as sound masking, have more productive employees. In a study by CABE, employees in offices with sound masking reported improvement of up to 38% on the performance of simple tasks and 27% for more complex tasks. Sound masking isn’t the only way to reduce unwanted noise. The layout of your office, sound proofing materials and behavioral protocols can all make a difference.
6 Cool Promotional Products to Give Your Clients for the Holidays
The holidays are often seen as a time of gift-giving. With holiday season in full swing, you may want to give your clients a gift as a way of saying “thanks for doing business with us.” Sending a holiday gift to a client is a great way to get your brand remembered and to show clients your appreciation.
When searching for promotional products for the holidays, it’s easy to stick with what you already know, such as pens, koozies, and notepads. But the holidays are a great time to shake things up and try something new with your promotional products. Here’s a list of 6 cool promotional products that you can give to your clients for the holidays:
Travel Mugs
It’s no secret that many people choose to travel for the holidays, whether by plane, car, train or even cruise. During those trips, it’s always nice to have a cup that’s easy to travel with so you can refill it on the go. Travel mugs and tumblers are relatively inexpensive, and they’re a great opportunity to get your logo in front of a ton of people.
Calendars
If you give your clients a calendar before they buy their own, there’s a good chance that they’ll use your calendar all year – meaning they’ll be thinking about your brand throughout the year. Calendars are also a great non-denominational gift that everyone will love.
Custom Gift Baskets and Chocolate
Custom gift baskets and chocolate are a popular holiday gift for clients, and it’s something that almost everyone will love. People tend to steer clear of food gifts due to price, but there are ways to cut costs. Instead of buying a pre-made gift basket, consider putting one together yourself for your top clients and including some promotional products in the basket as well as a personalized card.
Ornaments
Many promotional product stores offer customizable Christmas ornaments. If you know that your clients put up a tree every year, giving them an ornament to add to their tree is a great gift idea.
Stress Relievers
It’s no surprise that people are often stressed out during the holidays trying to find presents for everyone, making time to spend with family and making sure all of the work gets done. Stress relievers such as stress balls and other squishy toys are great for all types of people, and they’re something that people can use all year long. If you’re going for a seasonal theme, you can order customized stress relievers in the shape of Santa, the Star of David or even snowmen – but remember to offer a selection so you don’t alienate any of your clients.
Christmas Cards
Sending personalized and branded Christmas cards is a great way to send holiday greetings to many of your clients without spending a fortune. Sure, you could easily go to any local card store and pick up a holiday card, but purchasing them from a promotional product company will allow you to brand them with your logo and include a personalized message.