How to Collect a Doctor Bill

A man with a bulging forehead once said that "Life is what you make it." This is very true in the profession of medicine. The successful physician must live in the manner of successful men. To do this, most men must live upon the income from their practice. If the physician properly cares for his wife and children, he must realize on his investment-his medical education. A man's first duty is to his own, and it is written that the man who fails to collect that which is due him, and "provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, is worse than an infidel."

To successfully conduct any enterprise it is necessary to adopt business methods. System is the key-note of modern business, and the simplest system is the best. A cash system is by far the simplest.

No man can succeed in practice, nor can he be considered a safe medical adviser so long as he is handicapped by poverty, a worried mind or poor health; or if he is compelled to dodge around corners to escape his creditors.

There are men who tell us that they are not in practice so much for money as for the glory and honor of the profession. If these men are sincere, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and feel sorry for their wives and children. Nor can I understand where the profession can gain much honor from men who are financial failures. Not that money is the only thing for which we should strive, but that the man who provides not for his own, cannot be representative of the noble profession of medicine. Also, I have observed that the path of glory leads in the direction of the cemetery, and checks on the National Bank of Fame are generally protested when the rent comes around.

The applause and compliments of the multitude are no doubt sweet, but it only lulls to rest the voice of duty, and fails to provide sustenance for those dependent upon us. Man cannot live on air alone-even though it be flavored by the ambrosia of sweet compliments and the hypnosis of applause. Again, I have observed that a larger crowd will turn out any time to see a man hung than to compliment him on a duty well performed.

The man who answers calls at all hours of the day and night, for any and every one who may request his services; with no assurance of ever receiving pay; and who is afraid to demand settlement for fear of losing practice, is not competent to conduct his own affairs, much less to practice medicine. It is this class of men who make dead-beats of our patrons, and thus reduce the income of physicians to a point where a bare existence is all we can hope for.

To be a safe medical advisor requires that the mind be free from the petty cares of life. He should live in a manner in keeping with the dignity of the profession to which he has given his life. He must have a neat office, wear good clothes, have a happy home and a contented mind.

It is well to achieve the reputation of being an indefatigable and shrewd collector. It pays. It will influence your regular patrons to pay more promptly. It will also help to keep away those who trespass upon your time and never pay you. The only sure way to hold practice is to require your patrons to pay their bills promptly. If they do not owe you they are not so liable to avoid you and cease to employ you. Let a family once get greatly in arrears, then it will happen that-not having the cheek to face you-they will call another physician, and give every reason but the true one for deserting you. Thus, through your own neglect you lose patronage, friends and your good name and reputation. The public will never place any higher value on your services than you do yourself. The death-knell of any physician's success is tolled when he becomes known as a "cheap doctor."

Not only must you require others to pay you, but you must also pay your own bills. Physicians, as a rule, are considered poor pay by business men. It is a very good rule in life to discount all bills that you owe, and never to discount a bill due you. Make it a rule to never owe any man anything, and to have as few owe you as possible.

Many physicians will cut their bills to whatever the debtor cares to pay. In this way they lose a large part of their fees, and achieve the reputation of being poor business men.

I heard an old Arkansas doctor relate his experience in discounting a bill that well illustrates the weakness of many physicians. A client owed him $60, and after the account had run about six months, the man came in and said, "Doc, I hain't got the money, but if you will cut that bill in two I'll borrow it from my father-in-law." The doctor thought $30 would be better than waiting, so agreed. Three months later the man returned and said, "Doc, I couldn't get the money from my father-in-law, but I have a fat hog I can sell and get some money if you will cut that bill in two." The account was growing old and the doctor thought he had better take the $15, so he said all right. Six months from that time the fellow hove in view again. This time he said, "Doc, my wife thought we needed that hog for meat and I couldn't get her consent to sell it, but I have a job now, and if you will cut that bill in two, I'll pay you." This time the doctor thought he saw $7.50 in sight, so again he agreed. "All right, Doc," said the debtor, "as soon as I get in a few weeks work, I'll be in and pay you." The doctor said the fellow did come around a few months later and began a similar story, but he told him to go to a country where rotary snow plows are not much in demand.

One of the greatest mistakes is in allowing accounts for different cases to accumulate until the amount becomes so large that it is difficult to pay. It is always best to require settlement as soon after each case is dismissed as possible. In sending statements, be careful to itemize by cases only, as "John, fever, $15," "Wife, confinement, $25," etc. I seldom give the disease unless it is some special case that required much attention. In some cases it refreshes their memory when reference is made to the disease.

You must know your business. Give every man a square deal, and require others to do the same by you. When you have completed your work, remember the advice of old Prof. Joslyn, "Get money, still get money, boy, no matter by what means" so long as it is justly due you for services rendered. If you fail to require your patrons to pay you for your services, you have not done your full duty.

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